Ralph Vaughan Williams - Norfolk Rhapsody No.1

[Klassiskmus]

Just a thought from my little compilation of rhapsodies: Will you learn anything about the differences and similarities between English and Swedish culture and mentality by comparing the theme from 5:35 with the theme at about 5:00 from Alfven's 3. swedish rhapsody?

I think you can learn a lot about history, culture and mentality from music, though of course it primarly tells about the composer.

[JuanSabini]

kyfriends: I agree.

[C666B]

Never surpassed by anything else he did.

[271250cl]

Reply for @alger3041. Two films were made about RVW in 2008, the 50th anniversary of his death, Tony Palmer's film (available on DVD) was called "O Thou Transcendent" - a quotation from the Walt Whitman poems that RVW set to music in "A Sea Symphony". John Bridcut made film called "The Passions of Vaughan Williams" which focused on the way the composer's personal life influenced his music. Both are excellent.

[kyfriends]

8:45 is the most beautiful part in this masterpiece

[alger3041]

@kyfriends - I know this piece, and I especially paid attention to what was playing at 8:45 that you were so entranced with.

It is the final phrase, based upon the middle section, here far more sedate - the final phrase, as I say, which leads back into the very opening gesture of the piece with which it began.

A perfect summing up.

[machoolahan]

Do love this deeply...

[TK42138]

Close your eyes while listening to this. See the green fields, big skies. The smell of damp earth and cherry blossom. Wide empty beaches, the mournful cry of a seagull.

Damn his music is good...

[alger3041]

@TK42138, I see that you did get to hear the Boult performance of this work, which as I stated I feel is much better than the Marriner.

And I fully agree with your pictorial description of the impression received, as I stated on the other post.

But I always say, that one must feel free to draw one's own impressions. Yours happen to be very similar to mine.

[TK42138]

@alger3041

I've always felt a connection with his music. Especially his less well known works. I'm not a musician or composer but one can really get a sense of his moods, outlook, call it what you will - but one thing's for sure - he was a complicated man. If you've not already seen it I recommend the BBC4 documentary that was about him shown few years ago. Can't recall the title though.

Agreed - the Boult version seems to have the edge. Tribute to Boult's interpretation.

[gabrieru1983]

i just adore him so much.

since the first time i heard him i knew it was going to be special.

[chinatree1]

Thanks Deviantrake, a lovely piece of music.

[fauxsham]

There's something about VW's work, that I can't quite put my finger on, but, its that indefinable quality of making you feel bigger inside than outside, the music is THAT good, its almost too much to listen to, this piece, fantasia on a theme by thomas tallis, lark ascending, the wasps etc etc, they all have "it" beautiful

[DerWias]

@fauxsham it is the big number of single voices.

im playing it myself =) really like it

[TK42138]

@fauxsham

It may be due to his ability to place the listener at the 'location' of the music and even his 'mood' when he composed it.

Just perfect.....

[windstorm1000]

@fauxsham You said it----and as you said, one can hardly put one's finger on why his music swells one's heart and spirit--but it does--all without fortes and big brass sound (though VW can do this as well). I think listeners are drawn to the peacful sound of his compositions--and how the world really should be.

[meekayx3]

The section starting at 5:37 is what really makes this piece for me. It makes me want to stick a pirate flag on my car and drive down the highway blasting that one section. =)

[TK42138]

@meekayx3

I know exactly what you mean...

[gaspode18]

@meekayx3 "On Board a 98" - an old sea song:

So the years rolled by and at Trafalgar, brave Nelson, he fought and fell.

And when they capsized that hardy tar, I took a rap as well.

So to Greenwich College I came back because I'd saved my pate.

They've only knocked a wing off Jack on board a “98”.

[prinznevsky]

@gaspode18 I'm still confounded. which theme is the "98" song?

[gaspode18]

@prinznevsky The fast bit in the middle.

[prinznevsky]

@gaspode18 that's what I always thought, but I've never seen the original tune (written), and the few versions here on youtube that people play seem to have an entirely different melody and are much slower and more rubato. Interesting...

[gaspode18]

@prinznevsky There are many different versions of most British folk tunes and VW would have changed it a little in the orchestration.

[prinznevsky]

@gaspode18 he seemed to have changed it quite a bit compared to the other versions For the better! I'm trying to work out a version based on RVW's melody. The lyrics fit perfectly..."but damme I am too old to sing, I'm nearly 98" :)

[gaspode18]

@prinznevsky Perhaps he used a version exclusive to Norfolk.

[kyfriends]

@meekayx3

If you enjoyed this, you might like his arrangement for "On Board a Nighty-Eight"

[tubetrekker30]

Simply sublime. He is my absolute favorite composer and this haunting piece is maybe my favorite on the planet.

[goodha2]

i wish this had more views, it deserves it

[deviantrake]

I agree completely, Vaughan Williams is by far my favourite English composer.

[4candles]

Lovely! There is something unique about the music of Vaughan-Williams and Mathias and the like. Perhaps it's because it is so 'English'.

[jpandyaraja]

@4candles no sir i beg to differ......the charm of this mans music was a deep

call to the spiritual.........a reminder about the subtility yet idelibility of the higher ...jr

[Gavrilux]

I totally agree. He was not simply doing music. He was helping people to use music to find the inner voice. That was probably his mission on that life.