Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; The Lark Ascending; Five Variants

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This is the one I fell in love with so many years ago,and it was the first Vaughan Williams CD I purchased.I own everything of his on CD now,but this CD is my favorite.The beauty of "The Lark Ascending" is indescribable.I'll just say that it takes you away to a better,more peaceful time,and no matter how frazzled your nerves are,it will mellow you but good.The Thomas Tallis Fantasia piece is so gorgeous.Listen to the first few bars,and imagine yourself standing next to a ruined castle,the walls encumbered with ivy,the sun filtering through the ruins....That is the effect it has on me every time I listen.The Greensleeves Fantasia is another sumptuous composition,as are the Variants.I think old Ralph(Rafe) was the very best composer for strings.Second would be Delius.
If you fall in love with this CD,I would recommend that you listen to Ralph's "Sinfonia Antartica." Completely unlike anything on this CD,but astounding nevertheless.Really...everything he composed is wonderful,so start with this CD and build yourself a R.V.W. library.

A four piece CD that packs an outstanding punch, the first work 'Theme by Thomas Tallis' has one of the top melodies ever written by any composer thus far. Very lush, sweeping, and beautifully haunting without being mawkish, a must have for a person new to Vaughan Williams work.

'Lark Ascending' shows the artistry of Vaughan Williams in displaying the interweaving of textures of violin solo's within the symphony of instruments. Again a very powerful melody blended by the interplay of the symphony and lovely violin solo by Iona Brown.

The other two works on this CD compliment the above mentioned pieces with their stunning richness of full symphonic textures of melodies and movement.

This is a CD one must have who is new or unfamiliar with Vaughan Williams work, I believe it to be one of the best works of any musician.

I have been looking for The Lark Ascending for years and years. I didn't know the name or the artist I could only identify it by sound. I can't believe I have finally found it. I am getting married one day with The Lark Ascending in the background and I will also have it played at my funneral. I love it to death. I would have paid anything to have a copy and now I do. The Lark Ascending takes my mind away to another world and gives me so much peace and joy at the same time. I cried when I finally found the name and was able to purchase a copy of The Lark Ascending. A very special CD for me. The length of The Lark Ascending is great but I could listen to it all day!! Thank you Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Expressive, delicate and profoundly peaceful, this is the quintessential English pastoral music played by the quintessential British chamber orchestra. Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields are the perfect performers of these four works by Ralph Vaughan Williams: "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis", "Fantasia on Greensleeves", "The Lark Ascending" and "Five Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus'". Sweet violin solos, quiet flutes and strings, and wistful reeds evoke images of a quaint, simple countryside that perhaps never was. But this music makes it real, painting a sound picture of quiet, natural beauty without the worldly intrusions of back-breaking physical labor, high taxes and harsh overlords that English farmers of yore would doubtless have had to contend with. Vaughan Williams (b. 1872, d.1958), a collector of folk songs and arranger of Renaissance tunes, waxes nostalgic with these graceful, dignified and superbly subtle compositions, and you will too upon hearing them. Put this recording on at the end of a stressful day, look at something green and alive, and just feel the tension melt away. Vaughan Williams created many intriguing soundscapes, but these four selections have always been my personal favorites.

This is a wonderful sampler for those new to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. This is an analog recording, but the music is impressively warm and lush in keeping with Williams' writing. Especially noteworthy is Iona Brown's violin in "The Lark Ascending": if there's music more beautiful than this, I sure would like to know about it.

I recently purchased this CD and I have almost worn it out. Although all four pieces are excellent, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and The Lark Ascending are of the utmost beauty and pleasure. This is one of those classic "Must Have" orchestral recordings that should appeal to any one. This rendition of Vaughan Williams most noted work has almost a "religous" quality to it that captures the escense and tranquility of the English countryside. Although I have heard other recordings of this music, this one has that magical nerve striking quality that best represents the composer's original music intentions. This is truly a great work and lives up to the great reputation of Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields !

Simply awe inspiring. One of my all time favorite CDs. I could listen to this recording 24/7 and never get bored or tired with it. Iona Brown's playing is one of the best if not THE BEST during "The Lark Ascending". Who says the English can't compose, play or conduct music? Purchase this CD right now. You won't regret it.

If you're a brooding melancholic as I sometimes am (as we all sometimes are), then this music, almost religious in scope, will hit the spot. All of the pieces fit well, with no jarring, abrupt "surprises." Smooth and lush, these Ralph Vaughan Williams pieces provide soothe and succor.

THE LARK ASCENDING IS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF MUSIC EVER COMPOSED. ITS TRANSCENDANT BEAUTY COMPELS US TO ENVISION THAT LONE, SOLITARY LARK AS IT CLIMBS EVER HIGHER, AND SWOOPS EVER LOWER THROUGH OUR HEARTS, LEAVING ITS INDELLIBLE IMPRINT UPON OUR SOULS. MUSIC CAN SERVE NO GREATER PURPOSE THAN TO GIVE VOICE TO OUR SOULS. THIS PIECE DOES SO POWERFULLY.

I can only add my voice to the previous accolades. It would take a hardened Vaughan Williams hater to not love this recording. Iona Brown is now known mostly as a conductor, it seems--but judging by her performance in "The Lark Ascending" she missed a great soloist career. Her beauty of tone and perfect intuition of the right tempo are major league. I never heard a better version of this piece.