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Above: Vaughan Williams (extreme left)
with Royal Army Medical Corps working party.
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A Sea Symphony
(Symphony No 1) |
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Words by
Whitman. The choral societies favourite. Completed
in 1910 and first performed in Leeds on VW's 38th
birthday, 12th October, this symphony caused great
excitement when it was first heard. Seven years in
gestation. 'Big stuff with impertinences' Hubert
Parry called it.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Robert Spano,
Christine Goerke (Soprano), Brett Polegato (Baritone),
Chorus Master: Norman McKenzie.
©Telarc SACD-60588
For
more information.
Left: Walt
Whitman |
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A Song for
All Seas |
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On the Beach
at Night, Alone |
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Scherzo: The
Waves |
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The Explorers |
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A London Symphony
(Symphony No 2) |
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One of
VW's favourite works. First performed in 1914. Packed
with tunes and ideas and full of visual references.
The Thames in fog, street sellers, Westminster chimes,
hustle and bustle - is all in this work. Written
when VW lived by the river, at Cheyne Walk, in Chelsea.
Encouraged by his friend George Butterworth.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor
Vernon Handley.
©HMV
For
more information.
Left: George
Butterworth |
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Lento - Allegro
risoluto |
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Lento |
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Scherzo |
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Andante con
moto |
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A Pastoral Symphony
(Symphony No 3) |
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First performed
under Sir Adrian Boult on January 26, 1922 at Queen's
Hall. A haunting work, the symphony was misunderstood
at the time. The symphony was conceived while VW
was on military service in Northern France and reflects
his yearning for home. The spectacular sunsets over
the killing fields were ironic images which inspired
him.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Conductor Vernon Handley.
©EMI
For
more information
Left: VW
in the Royal Medical Corps in 1915 |
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Molto moderato |
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Lento moderato |
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Moderato pesante |
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Lento |
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Symphony No.
4 in F minor |
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VW famously
remarked of this symphony, 'I dont know if I like
it, but it's what I meant'. He denied that the symphony
prophesised war in Europe. Nevertheless, the work
is angry and menacing with a defiant ending and came
as a shock after the Pastoral. First performed on
10 April, 1935, to huge acclaim.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Conductor Vernon Handley.
©EMI
Visit
this site for more information:
and this: the
Philharmonia media page
Left:
VW in 1926 |
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Allegro |
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Andante moderato |
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Scherzo |
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Finale |
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Symphony No.
5 in D major |
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Again a
complete contrast from the preceding work. Parts
of it contain material from the then unfinished opera
'Pilgrim's Progress'. Composed between 1938-43. A
beautifully serene work but with tension at its core.
First performed with VW conducting at the Royal Albert
Hall in June 1943 and dedicated to Sibelius, 'without
permission'.
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Richard Hickox.
©Chandos
For
more information
Left: VW
conducting his 5th Symphony in 1945. |
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Preludio: Moderato |
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Scherzo: Presto
misterioso |
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Romanza: Lento |
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Passacaglia:
Moderato |
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Symphony No.
6 in E minor |
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Composed
between 1944-47 and first performed under Boult on
21 April 1948. Another menacing work, with whirling
and devilish impressions. Contains a bizarre tuba
solo as well as a rombustious scherzo and jazzy syncopations.
The second movement recalls the Mars of Gustav Holst
while the wonderful pianissimo finale gives the impression
of drifting in timelessness and space.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Bernard
Haitink.
For
more information visit the Philharmonia
page.
Left: VW
was losing his hearing almost certainly
as a result of his time in the field. |
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Allegro |
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Moderato |
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Scherzo: Alegro
vivace |
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Epilogue: Moderato |
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Symphony No.
7 'Sinfonia Antartica' |
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Much of
this symphony was taken from material used for the
film, Scott of the Antarctic. First performed by
the Hallé Orchestra under Barbirolli on 14
January 1953. It called for the largest orchestra
ever employed by VW and uses a piano, a wind machine,
gongs, organ, glockenspiel, celesta, xylophone and
vibraphone as well as human voice.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Alison Hargon (soprano),
Ian Tracy (organ),
Conductor Vernon Handley.
©EMI
For
more information visit the Philharmonia page.
Left: Rehearsing
Antartica with Ernest Irving. |
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Prelude |
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Scherzo |
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Landscape |
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Intermezzo |
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Epilogue |
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Symphony No.
8 in D minor |
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Dedicated
to Sir John Barbirolli and first performed on 2 May
1956 in Manchester's Free Trade Hall by the Hallé Orchestra
and Barbirolli conducting. Using an exotic instrument
combination, this is the shortest of the symphonies.
VW called the first movement, 'seven variations in
search of a theme'.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Bernard
Haitink.
©EMI
For
more information.
Left: With
John Baribirolli |
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Fantasia |
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Scherzo |
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Cavatina |
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Toccata |
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Symphony No.
9 in D minor |
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Composed
in 1956-7 and revised in 1958, the year of the composer's
death, the symphony was first performed under Sir
Malcolm Sargent on 2 April 1958. Despite his great
age and despite revisiting ideas explored much earlier,
the music is innovative and predicts a new phase
in VWs musical journey. Many of the ideas evoke Thomas
Hardy's novel 'Tess', a work which VW held important
enough to conduct a walk in the 'footsteps of' with
his lifelong friend Gustav Holst. Images of the Salisbury
Plains and district abound.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Bernard
Haitink.
©EMI
For
more information.
Left: Gustav
Holst. VW and Holst were great admirers
of Hardy's work. |
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Moderato maestoso |
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Andante sostenuto |
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Scherzo |
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Andante tranquillo |
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