Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This two-disc set is a wonderful, reasonably-priced introduction to British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams orchestral works. His broad range of composition is amply represented here, the quality of tonal reproduction is outstanding, and the calibre of performance is high. Particularly appealing to me is the English Folk Song Suite, this performance conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, played by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields...wonderful material all, largely also new to me...a felicitous discovery; do highly recommend.

Every now and then I listen to a cd that changes my life. I went absolutely crazy over this one and started getting many other Vaughan Williams cds. The Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis is an absolutely unforgettable piece, and rightfully one of the composer's most famous works, but there is not a moment of inferior or inaccesible sound in this collection.

From this cd one can understand Vaughan Williams's reputation for writing pastorally beautiful music-in the lark ascending and dives and lazarus particularly, but one also gets a taste of the more intense works he produced, such as the concerto grosso and the partita for double string orchestra. They certainly don't approach the harshness of his 4th and 6th symphonies, but this cd is a wonderful overview of his smaller orchestral works.

everyone will recognize the melody to greensleeves, and the english folk song suite is just plain fun. This cd is the most often played in my collection of classical music, but whatever you do, do yourself a favor and give the Tallis Fantasia a listen. As the inside notes put it, it sounds like "a cathedral made audible"

Vaughan Williams is certainly one of the consummate English composers who took the folk song of his country and compsed delightful orchestra works around them.

This budget worthy 2-CD set displays this in two parts, the first performed by the Acadamey of St.Martin in-the-Fields while the second disc features more period instruments with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra and the London Philharmonic.

Celia Nicklin is superb with the Oboe Concerto nusancing this pastoral yet lively offering. Iona Brown likewise contributes a fine solo violin performance with "The Lark Ascending"

The strings also provide a strong offering on the "Tallis Fantasia", one of his strongest compositions on this selection.

Excellent example of this prominent English composer's love with folk song interpretation, in this recording done passionately and naturally.

Hi. I am familiar with a lot of classical music. However, I knew little about the oeuvre of Vaughan Williams. What a great find! Getting so much of his instrumental work is truly a bargain. He evokes the English countryside and folk traditions very effectively. "The Lark Ascending" is relaxing while also being a virtuoso piece of work. Makes me wonder if J.R.R. Tolkien, with his love for rural England, ever attended a concert by Vaughan Williams...

Highly recommended! :)

English Folk Song Suit is one of my favorite pieces ever! I first heard the song when I played it in Windensambe. It's an exciting piece to play and to listen to. I would recommend this Cd to anyone with an intrest in great music.

Two and a half hours of exquisite music.

English Folk Song Suite, for orchestra [3 songs]
... The first and third songs are upbeat with "popular" melodies.
... The second is more like the following seven works.

Fantasia on Greensleeves
Oboe Concerto
The Lark Ascending
Variants (5) of 'Dives and Lazarus'
Norfolk Rhapsody for orchestra No. 1
In the Fen Country
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
... The slower-paced songs above, are gorgeous and relaxing, evoking images of a summer evening.

Concerto grosso for strings in 3 groups
Romance for harmonica, strings & piano in D flat major
Partita for double string orchestra
... The other three selections are similar with a "modern" sound.

All the playing is perfect. The excellent sound is from recordings made from 1972 - 1992, except for the Partita, recorded in 1956, is still very good but does have a touch of background noise.

Each piece on this CD is wonderful to listen to. My 2 year old daughter takes her nap everyday with this CD playing softly in the background. This CD is a great deal as it includes 2 CD's including Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; the Lark Ascending; Five Variants. Which is also a wonderful CD, we got it for 2 friends at our church. But better to get this CD with 2 CD's for the price of one. My favorite is Fanatasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis!

While not all his works are to my taste, his pastoral ones are so gorgeous that you don't really care that the more boisterous ones are wanting.