English Music for Strings

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:13 +0000

“With gloriously full and real recording, most beautiful string textures, this is one of Groves’s finest records…RPO players give deeply felt, vibrant accounts of four great masterpieces of English string music” (Rosette award, Penguin Guide) “fresh and vital performances, …a thrilling challenge for any string orchestra which the RPO players meet splendidly, with real wit and convincing intensity of feeling …music superbly evocative of England… Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia; this is a radiant, richly textured and spacious account…. a most desirable collection.” © Gramophone

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Serenade for Strings
in E minor, Op.20

1. Allegro piacevole 3.34
2. Largo 6.34
3. Allegretto 3.08

Sir Benjamin Britten (1913-76): Variations on a Theme
of Frank Bridge, Op.10

4. (i) Introduction & theme (lento maestoso) – (ii) adagio 4.44
5. March (presto) 1.09
6. Romance (allegretto grazioso) 1.23
7. Aria Italiana (allegro brillante) 1.23
8. Bourree Classique (allegro e pesante)* 1.36
9. Wiener Walzer (lento-vivace) 2.57
10. Moto Perpetuo (allegro molto) 1.10
11. Funeral March (andante ritmico) 3.55
12. Chant (lento) 1.42
13. Fugue & Finale (allegro molto vivace – lento e solenne) 7.53

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): “Tallis Fantasia”

14. Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis* 15.19

Sir Michael Tippett (1905-98): “Corelli Fantasia”

15. Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli* 19.13
(adagio-vivace: variations 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Vaughan Williams: Legendary Recordings

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:35:50 +0000

“1938 was Sir Henry Wood’s jubilee and the magical Serenade to Music which Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote for it… this, with the original soloists RVW had in mind, has obvious uniqueness but it possesses a very special beauty and atmosphere.” — Gramophone

Ralph Vaughan Williams was without doubt one of the most influential musical figures to emerge in the 20th century: a scholar, editor, pedagogue, composer, conductor and musicologist. he also enjoyed a close working relationship with some of England’s greatest musicians. This CD brings together for the first time four historic premiere recordings of Vaughan Williams’s music in painstakingly remastered and restored sound.

On Wenlock Edge (Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad of A.E. Housman )
George Maran, tenor / London String Quartet / Ivor Newton, piano (recorded in 1955)

[1] On Wenlock Edge 3:48
[2] From Far, From Eve And Morning 1:56
[3] Is My Team Ploughing? 3:30
[4] Oh. When I Was In Love With You 0:46
[5] Bredon Hill 7:31
[6] Clun 3:45

[7] Old King Cole: Ballet for Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult, conductor (recorded in 1954) 19:13

[8] Song Of Thanksgiving 15:22
Betty Dolemore, soprano / Robert Speaight, narrator / Harry Gabb, organ / Luton Choral Society and members of the Luton Girls Choir (Arthur E. Davies, director) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult, conductor (recorded in 1951)

[9] Serenade To Music (Words: Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice) 14:03
Isobel Baillie / Elsie Suddaby / Margaret Balfour / Muriel Brunskill / Heddle Nash / Parry Jones / Roy Henderson / Harold Williams / Stiles Allen / Eva Turner / Astra Desmond / Mary Jarred / Walter Widdop / Frank Titterton / Robert Easton / Norman Allin
BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Henry Wood, conductor (recorded in 1938)

Produced by Tony Watts
Digital Mastering by Hilton Grove London

Vaughan Williams – Alto CD

English Music for Strings

Vaughan Williams: Legendary Recordings