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Unpromising Beginnings

Donald Macleod examines the well-to-do background and inauspicious musical beginnings of Ralph Vaughan Williams, who would go on to become one of Britain’s most-loved composers.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain’s most-loved composers, and best-known symphonists, writing nine symphonies that span almost 50 years of his career. These works evoke a wide range of moods, each creating its own unique world, from his first stormy choral symphony, through the aggressive and the tranquil, to his final enigmatic, haunting Ninth. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Vaughan Williams - a man who helped forge a new identity for English music in the 20th century - paying special attention to the symphonies. In Monday’s episode, Donald examines Vaughan Williams’s well-to-do background, and how that contrasted with the inauspicious musical beginnings of a composer who would go on to become the torchbearer for British music. Donald also explores the composer’s relationship with England’s capital city, hearing from his “A London Symphony”, a work that Vaughan Williams said, should really be called “Symphony by a Londoner”.

The Robin’s Nest
Frank Ericson (piano)

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner (conductor)

Prayer to the Father of Heaven
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
Andrew Nethsingha (director)

A Cambridge Mass - Credo : Credo in Unum Deum
Olivia Robinson (soprano)
Rebecca Lodge (contralto)
Christopher Bowen (tenor)
Edward Price (baritone)
Bach Choir
New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Alan Tongue (conductor)
Martin Ennis (organ)

A London Symphony (original 1913 version) - IV. Andante con moto
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox (conductor)

Linden Lea
David John Pike (baritone)
Isabelle Trüb (piano)

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Feb 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Robin's Nest

    Performer: Frank Ericson.
    • ALBION RECORDS : ALBCD039.
    • ALBION RECORDS.
    • 1.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis

    Performer: Iona Brown. Performer: Trevor Connah. Performer: Stephen Shingles. Performer: Kenneth Heath. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • DECCA: 478 5692.
    • DECCA.
    • 2.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Prayer to the father of heaven

    Choir: Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge. Conductor: Andrew Nethsingha.
    • Signum SIGCD541.
    • Signum.
    • 11.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    A Cambridge Mass - Credo: Credo in Unum Deum

    Performer: Martin Ennis. Singer: Olivia Robinson. Singer: Rebecca Lodge. Singer: Christopher Bowen. Singer: Edward Price. Choir: The Bach Choir. Orchestra: The New Queen’s Hall Orchestra.
    • ALBION RECORDS : ALBCD020.
    • ALBION RECORDS.
    • 1.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    London Symphony (4th mvt, Andante con moto)

    Conductor: Richard Hickox. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-9902.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 5.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Linden Lea

    Performer: Isabelle Trüb. Singer: David John Pike.
    • SIGNUM: SIGCD314.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 22.

Broadcast

  • Mon 8 Feb 2021 12:00

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