Composer of nine masterful symphonies, editor of the English Hymnal, an ambulance driver in WWI, and great-nephew to Charles Darwin, Ralph Vaughan Williams was a prolific and intriguing figure who was at the vanguard of English music in the early 20th century. This week, we’ll look at his life and enjoy his music.
Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Playlist
Episode 1
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 5 (excerpt)
Royal Philharmonic/ Sir Yehudi Menuhin
Symphony 5, Concerto For 2 Pianos
Virgin 61105
1:05
Handel, George Frideric: Water Music (excerpt)
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy
The Royal Fireworks Suite / The Water Music Suite
Sony 742563
:36
Gilbert & Sullivan: Pirates of Penzance (excerpt)
Pro Arte Orchestra/ Sir Malcolm Sargent
The Pirates of Penzance
EMI 64397
:47
Wagner, Richard: Die Walküre (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic/ Solti
Die Walküre – Highlights
London 414105
1:54
Holst, Gustav: The Planets Mars (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Sir Colin Davis
The Planets
LSO 0029
:46
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “The Vagabond”
Terfel, baritone; Martineau, piano
The Vagabond & Other Songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Finzi, Ireland
DG 445946
3:06
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “In the Fen Country,” (excerpt)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Thomson
Norfolk Rhapsody • In the Fen Country • Fantasia On A Theme
By Thomas Tallis • 5 Variants Of “Dives And Lazarus”
Chandos 8502
2:15
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “In the Fen Country,” (excerpt)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Thomson
Norfolk Rhapsody • In the Fen Country • Fantasia
Chandos 8502
2:15
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “A Norfolk Rhapsody” (excerpt)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Thomson
Norfolk Rhapsody • In the Fen Country • Fantasia
Chandos 8502
4:19
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: String Quartet No. 1, I.
English String Quartet
Phantasy Quintet / String Quartets Nos 1 & 2
Unicorn 9076
7:58
Debussy, Claude: Quartet for strings in G Minor (excerpt)
Cleveland Quartet
Debussy: Quartet In G • Ravel: Quartet In F
Teldec 80111
:24
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “On Wenlock Edge”
Britten Quartet; Langridge, tenor; Shelley, piano
Ravel and Vaughan Williams: String Quartets
EMI 54346
9:40
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: The Wasps: Overture
London Symphony Orchestra/ Previn
The 9 Symphonies – Concerto Accademico – The Wasps: Overture
RCA 55708-2
8:54
Episode 2
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 1 “A Sea Symphony,” I.
London Philharmonic/ Boult; Armstrong, soprano; Case, baritone
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 ‘A Sea Symphony’
EMI 472122
19:11
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Shadows And Light: Ambient Music From Another Time
Polygram 445 922
14:03
Butterworth, George: “The Lads in their Hundreds”
Benjamin Luxon, baritone; David Willison, piano
When I was one-and-twenty
Chandos 8831
2:10
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 2, “London,” III
London Philharmonic/ Boult
A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
EMI 47213
7:07
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 2, “London,” III. (excerpt)
London Philharmonic/ Boult
A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
EMI 47213
:26
Episode 3
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 2, “London,” I (excerpt)
London Philharmonic/ Boult
A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
EMI 47213
:50
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 2, “London,” IV
London Philharmonic/ Boult
A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2)
EMI 47213
11:55
Holst, Gustav: Mars from The Planets (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Sir Colin Davis
The Planets
LSO0029
:47
Ravel, Maurice: Le tombeau de Couperin (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Abbado
Orchestral Works
DG 5380216
2:12
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: The Lark Ascending
Birmingham Symphony/ Rattle; Kennedy, violin
Violin Concerto / The Lark Ascending
EMI 56413
17:27
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 3, “Pastorali. Molto Moderato
London Symphony Orchestra/ Previn; Harper, soprano
Symphony No. 3 (“A Pastoral Symphony”) / Symphony No. 4
RCA 89827
11:02
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Mass in G Minor; “Kyrie”
King’s College Choir/ Willcocks
Dona Nobis Pacem
EMI 69820
3:53
Episode 4
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, I
London Symphony Orchestra/Thomson; Sillito, violin
Vaughan Williams: Concertos, Partita for Double String Orchestra & other works
Chandos 9262
5:41
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “Sir John in Love” (excerpts)
Northern Sinfonia/ Hickox
Vaughan Williams: Sir John in Love
Chandos 9928
12:18
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “Fantasia on Greensleeves”
Sinfonia of London/ Barbirolli
English String Music
EMI 67264
1:01
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 4, I.
London Philharmonic/ Haitink
A Pastoral Symphony – Symphony No. 4
EMI 56564
8:32
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Dona Nobis Pacem “Beat, Beat Drums”
London Philharmonic/ Boult
Dona Nobis Pacem
EMI 69820
3:34
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “Prelude to 49th Parallel”
Northern Sinfonia/ Hickox
Five Mystical Songs; Prelude on An Old Carol Tune; Prelude – 49th Parallel; The Lark Ascending; The Running Set; Two Hymn Tune Preludes; Sea Songs – Quick March
EMI 49770
2:29
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 5, I.
Royal Philharmonic/ Menuhin
Symphony 5, Concerto For 2 Pianos
Virgin 61105
11:59
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “Fantasia on Greensleeves” (excerpt)
Sinfonia of London/ Barbirolli
English String Music
EMI 67264
2:49
Episode 5
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 5 finale (excerpt)
Royal Philharmonic/ Menuhin
Symphony 5, Concerto For 2 Pianos
Virgin 61105
1:12
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 6, I.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Previn
The 9 Symphonies
RCA 55708
8:07
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “The Cloud-Capped Tower,” “Over Hill, Over Dale”
Finzi Singers/ Spicer
Holst & Vaughan Williams – Choral Music
Chandos 9425
3:12
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 7, “Sinfonia Antarctica,” I. II.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Previn
Symphony No. 7 “Sinfonia Antartica” · Symphony No. 8
RCA 60590
16:57
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra, II.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Thomson; Harrild, tuba
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 6 · Tuba Concerto
Chandos 8740
5:19
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: “Serenade to Music”
English Chamber Orchestra and Corydon Singers/ Best
Serenade To Music
Hyperion 66420
13:29
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Symphony No. 9 (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Previn
The 9 Symphonies – Concerto Accademico – The Wasps: Overture
RCA 55708
2:53