Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works
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Music CD Cover
Composer: Ralph Vaughan WilliamsConductor: Adrian Boult
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
Conductor: Neville Marriner
Performer: Tommy Reilly
Performer: Celia Nicklin
Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestra: New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Performer: Iona Brown
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1999-05-11
Music Label: Decca
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Fantasia on Greensleeves
- English Folk Song Suite: I. March: Seventeen come Sunday
- English Folk Song Suite: II. Intermezzo: My bonny boy
- English Folk Song Suite: III. March: Folk songs from Somerset
- Oboe Concerto: I. Rondo pastorale
- Oboe Concerto: II. Minuet and musette
- Oboe Concerto: III. Finale
- Concerto Grosso: I. Intrada
- Concerto Grosso: II. Burlesca ostinata
- Concerto Grosso: III. Sarabande
- Concerto Grosso: IV. Scherzo
- Concerto Grosso: V. March and Reprise
- Romance (for Harmonica, Strings & Piano)
- The Lark Ascending (for Violin And Orchestra)
- Five Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus'
- Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
- Partita For Double String Orchestra: I. Prelude: Andante tranquillo
- Partita For Double String Orchestra: II. Scherzo ostinato: Presto
- Partita For Double String Orchestra: III. Intermezzo (Homage To Henry Hall)
- Partita For Double String Orchestra: IV. Fantasia: Allegro
- In the Fen Country
- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Free Music Notes for Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works
Free Music Review: Pleasant but Wanting
Hit: 3 Stars
As an overview or introduction to some of Ralph Vaughan Williams most well-known and beloved works--the Tallis Fantasia, the Greensleeves Fantasia, The Lark Ascending--this set from Decca will service most needs. It features an attractive program that, alongside the more popular works, includes some that aren't so universally well-known yet probably deserve to be--namely the Oboe Concerto and the Concerto Grosso.
The problem I have, as someone who has known most of these works for many years, is with the performances. The wonderful, spritely Oboe Concerto is given a dull and quite slow performance that seems to want to bring out pastoral qualities that aren't entirely there (it has its pastoral moments, but it's actually a very vivacious, impish piece). I was quite disappointed when I first heard it and immediately regretted no longer owning the Nimbus, Maurice Bourge recording.
The Tallis Fantasia too is disappointing. I find it quite under-played and interpreted in a somewhat 'choppy' manner--I wanted more flowing lines, more sweeping, powerful climaxes. It's all a bit too subdued.
Most of the other performances fare better but I still can't help but feel that Decca are being pretty stingy here: I mean, really, is Barry Wordsworth conducting the New Queen's Hall Orchestra the best they could give us for the Tallis, the Norfolk Rhapsody no.1 and In the Fen Country? I know it's a budget release but they have better in their vaults I'm sure.
Despite all this, it's not a HORRIBLE compilation and many will enjoy it as an introduction or sampling of Vaughan William's gorgeous music, but I strongly suggest that if you know these pieces well you should look elsewhere.
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