Watching war horse last week, I listened to the theme and thought: "hmmm, sounds like Vaughan Williams..." That's why I clicked on to Lark ascending this morning.
Williams' music really captures England in days gone by. Yes, there were tough times too, especially for the poor, elderly and sick, but listening to music like this, looking at sepia films & photographs from the era makes me think of gentle days when most people had pride in the country, manners, respect and honour. Lovely music.
This music always makes me think of a verse by Robert Burns; Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet, The bonnie lark, companion meet, Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet, Wi' speckl'd breast, When upward-springing, blythe to greet, The purpling east.
From the poets pen to that of the artist and composer, our British wildlife remains everything that is at the heart of our culture and identity. This is what inspires me to work in nature conservation.
Some things can bring tears to a man's eyes. Sometimes it is for the wrong reasons, like smashing your conkers against the front of the saddle whilst riding, or getting juice in your eye whilst peeling an orange. Sometimes it is for the right reasons. This is such a time.
I look forward to the day when i am a good enough violinist to play this beautiful piece, but in the meantime, I listen to it once in a while, and am brought to tears by such a captivating and moving piece. Feels good to be British once in a while
I sat listening to this, this morning, the winter sun streaming into the room through open windows, bird song drifting quietly through the air, and for those 14 minutes or so I was transported to the most beautiful of places, I felt feelings that I can't even put into words, and for those 14 precious minutes of this day, there was just me, this music and the birdsong.
I know very little about classical music but this is so so beautiful. It feels like I have fallen asleep and drifting through the early years of the last century. Who needs Blur and Oasis..it doesn't get any more English than this! Ray Davis, John Lennon, The Goons, Vaughan Williams..etc etc..Splendid! From a working class oik (me).
Being a religious Muslim and from an Indian background, living in an area that I wouldn't say was the most affluent in the region, this genre of music was, and still is today, very much neglected. I stumbled across Ralph Vaughan Williams a while back, and I wholeheartedly admit that this piece, alongside Fantasia on a Theme... are truly outstanding and beautiful masterpieces. If only more was done to introduce the youth of today and tomorrow to this, and not the modern day tripe we always hear.
I sat in my car with my wife in Exmoor with the sunroof open and watched a lark singing his heart out over the moor. It was 1983, the sun was shining and I was happy....I'll never forget and this music is my happiness
It reminds one of apple rotting in an old school desk, the finest of hairs dropping from a pensioners head following a curly perm, clouds, poodles balls, meow, there is something of everything here I think you will agree,,,, truly magnificent, I am sure you will concur.
One is well pleased that one is not taken in any way too seriously!!!,, that is the whole idea, my dear fellow. I rummage in the lesser quarters of my degenerate brain, and remove from the slit trench of reason, such nonsense as you perceive glad you enjoyed my weak attempt at whit.
This piece calms me in times of turmoil and inspires me when little else can. There is no other piece out there that speaks to me like this. My soul is warmed every time I hear it. Thank you Vaughan Willliams for such an unparalleled piece of classical music.
I remember Iona Brown playing with Pinchas Zukerman at the Proms in the 70's. A beautiful player indeed. Wasn't she closely associated with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields?
@crassazell We are on the same page. That is such a spine tingling segment that gets me every time as well. Not to take away from the rest of this piece which is absolutely magnificent. How could anyone ever write music which portrays Englands countryside so well? Englands adopted son? I see why.
They played this at my grandmas funeral, she died six months ago today and I always cry when I hear this coz she was so special and the bit at the end reminds me of her as she used to be a ballet dancer rip grandma
No other piece of music captivates the moment of 'death' so well as this, the playful ascendance of the soul above the cornfields and meadows, toying with the final desire to attach to the life-that-once-was-lived, and then the glorious breaking-free of all bonds with the mortal coil, with no regret, no fear of heaven or hell, no attachments, absolute letting go......
No other piece of music captivates the moment of 'death' so well as this, the playful ascendance of the soul above the cornfields and meadows, toying with the final desire to attach to the life-the-once-was-lived, and then the glorious breaking-free of all bonds with the mortal coil, with no regret, no fear of heaven or hell, no attachments, absolute letting go......
LittleBecca - the original recording with your aunt, Iona Brown, was in 1972 in the Kingsway Hall, London, with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Neville Marriner. I had the original vinal LP and more recently bought it on CD by Argo no. 414595-2 released in 1985. You can buy it now at Amazon for £5.99. Best wishes.
This was played at my aunts funeral. I think she played it but i cant find a copy of her playinhLg. Her name was Iona Brown. Does anyone know where i can find it?
@LittleBecca1234 That was the recording I fell in love with. I still have the vinyl, and hope to turn it into a cd one of these days. Your aunt was a beautiful player. :-)
I listened to this whilst returning home after a horrible flight that lasted far longer than it should have. Hearing this, and flying over the green fields of England at dawn, really brought a lump to my throat. It was really good to be home. Brilliant.
Hello from NYC.....WQXR just played this today and I ran home to YouTube to hear it again....ecstasy!! Now I will try and locate the CD... Envisioning a Constable and/or Turner oil while reading Great Expectations...
They speak of 'heartbreak', but this is pure 'soulbreak' every time,and it feels like redemption: with a Constable painting as a backdrop too!!....only 'those' who know......
@antisheepmentality fantasia on a theme of thomas tallis. if you've seen Master and Commander, they play play thomas tallis in that. it's incredibly beautiful.
What an absolutely heart-wrenching piece - this and his Talis fantasia are two of my favourites. VW definitely hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves in North America!
the best recording of this i know of. bliss. the low, muted strings in the parallels that RVW did so well, make one say 'aaaaahhhh' and melt into the furniture. The violin solo, especially in the first 5 min or so, lets me escape the bonds around me, for a bit.
@antisheepmentality The first few movements of his 5th Symphony are subtle, meandering and moving like Lark Ascending. Listen to the gentle calls of the French Horn in the beginning of the 5th, I think you will like...
One of Britain's greatest composers and yet many here in the States do not know him.This is a beautiful work.If you do not feel something wonderful or powerful in your heart then truly you have lost the capacity to feel anything.
I would love to write 500 characters and i could about this piece but i wont because one word will do it nicely - - ready, sure? "PERFECT" i did an 11hr climb in the french Ercins ealrier this year and the day after me and my mate sat listeing to this in total silents..... speaks volumes!!! come vote for 2012 lets get it back no1 in the classic fm hall of fame.... told you iwrite 500
I would love to write 500 characters and i could about this piece but i wont because on word will do it nicely - - ready, sure? "PERFECT" i did an 11hr climb in the french Ercins ealrier this year and the day after me and my mate sat listeing to this in total silents..... speaks volumes!!! come vote for 2012 lets get it back no1 in the classic fm hall of fame.... told you iwrite 500
I know the person who wrote this was English but this song reminds me of rural Australia, probably because they use it in the Year My Voice Broke, one of my favourite movies. It's a lovely piece of music.
This track reminds me of British black and white movies, every Saturday I escaped a large family by sitting alone in my aunties house and watching afternoon movies on TV. It equally reminds me of watching childrens black and white British film foundation movies at the saturday picture show for children.
I picture rolling fields, sunny days and a gentler time as I listen to this piece.
@corpsemunger Oh I knew you were joking. I'm just sick and tired of that ASSHOLE - IN EVERY VIDEO ON YOUTUBE, that posts something that has to do with the "likes/dislike" ratings that go along the lines of "x amount of people did this to the dislike button"
I must confess that this piece of music is one of a few that if I hear it, I will stop in my tracks and listen....pure symphonic genius, so touching, so moving and haunting, who could not love and appreciate this.
@eveyoz I don't but, I would bet if you sent an email to the person who posted it they would pass it along to you. Who knows you might make a friend! ;:~}}}
beautiful. this one will be on my track list while I'll be studying for my exams..14 minutes beauty, it helps me a lot when I need a break...it gives me new energy.
Just stunning - through a mixture of reading tolkien and photography around the Chichester area i've been planning loads of concepts around an intensely british music project - Vaughan Williams is King - he just summarises it so perfectly - with the achingly beautiful melodies that you really can't forget - a British institution we can be really proud of
@locioverdistance Interesting you mentioned Tolkien....I've often thought Howard Shore's beautiful Lord of the Rings soundtrack borrowed a bit from Williams...... (Tolkien even looks a bit like Williams, lol) Good luck with your project!
My favourite classical piece. Fourteen minutes and fifty four seconds of pure escapism. Makes me think of old England every time. Many thanks for uploading this one. So nice to hear it again after a long time.
I wish my parents had put me into musical theory and string practices but I know if they did I probably would've resented them for it. :/
thecam4444 3 days ago
Bliss, pure bliss
pdunderhill 1 week ago
quintessentially English!!!
xCrucifyTheFleshx 2 weeks ago
oh my goodness this is the first time I heard this song! I'm in love!
FPSBPM 2 weeks ago 2
lolz
npapadacis 3 weeks ago
Love to hear the dubstep remix
npapadacis 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
sprayframe 3 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@npapadacis why are you here?! I do hop you're trolling. If not GTFO.
sprayframe 3 weeks ago
@npapadacis remixing this peice would destroy it. I cant believe you really posted that comment. Shame on you.
MrDavedust 1 week ago 3
Watching war horse last week, I listened to the theme and thought: "hmmm, sounds like Vaughan Williams..." That's why I clicked on to Lark ascending this morning.
Williams' music really captures England in days gone by. Yes, there were tough times too, especially for the poor, elderly and sick, but listening to music like this, looking at sepia films & photographs from the era makes me think of gentle days when most people had pride in the country, manners, respect and honour. Lovely music.
andyhfromleeds1 3 weeks ago 2
:: tears of joy ::
pdelaprimm 3 weeks ago
TUNEEEEEEE
piinkcupcakex 3 weeks ago
@piinkcupcakex It is not a " TUNEEEEEEE ". It is a composition, or piece composed by a great.
MrDavedust 1 week ago
I love it! Beautiful!
ladansemascabre 1 month ago
Ah nostalgia! It isn't what it used to be. This Land and music of ours. How it is changing.
54321Rambler 1 month ago
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This music always makes me think of a verse by Robert Burns; Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet, The bonnie lark, companion meet, Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet, Wi' speckl'd breast, When upward-springing, blythe to greet, The purpling east.
From the poets pen to that of the artist and composer, our British wildlife remains everything that is at the heart of our culture and identity. This is what inspires me to work in nature conservation.
cameraguy38 1 month ago
Comment removed
cameraguy38 1 month ago
Comment removed
cameraguy38 1 month ago
Some things can bring tears to a man's eyes. Sometimes it is for the wrong reasons, like smashing your conkers against the front of the saddle whilst riding, or getting juice in your eye whilst peeling an orange. Sometimes it is for the right reasons. This is such a time.
LordMontystink 1 month ago 19
relax and enjoy, I say beautiful
bbooz 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos
I look forward to the day when i am a good enough violinist to play this beautiful piece, but in the meantime, I listen to it once in a while, and am brought to tears by such a captivating and moving piece. Feels good to be British once in a while
Magsteranaa 1 month ago
I sat listening to this, this morning, the winter sun streaming into the room through open windows, bird song drifting quietly through the air, and for those 14 minutes or so I was transported to the most beautiful of places, I felt feelings that I can't even put into words, and for those 14 precious minutes of this day, there was just me, this music and the birdsong.
14 minutes very well spent in my view.
areyoujoking1 1 month ago 5
Lovely music. It reminds me of George, who first
got me interested in classical music back in 1981.
I still miss him, may he R.I.P., but am grateful for
all that he taught me.
maxauburn 1 month ago
preciosa composición!
Keyrichan 1 month ago 7
I know very little about classical music but this is so so beautiful. It feels like I have fallen asleep and drifting through the early years of the last century. Who needs Blur and Oasis..it doesn't get any more English than this! Ray Davis, John Lennon, The Goons, Vaughan Williams..etc etc..Splendid! From a working class oik (me).
fatzooma 1 month ago 2
This is an echo of a time long since gone. The England that Vaughan Williams composed about is but a shadow of what it was.
BozzieM 1 month ago
It can make my cry..........on a regular.
snaprhain 1 month ago
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Being a religious Muslim and from an Indian background, living in an area that I wouldn't say was the most affluent in the region, this genre of music was, and still is today, very much neglected. I stumbled across Ralph Vaughan Williams a while back, and I wholeheartedly admit that this piece, alongside Fantasia on a Theme... are truly outstanding and beautiful masterpieces. If only more was done to introduce the youth of today and tomorrow to this, and not the modern day tripe we always hear.
HamzahMohammed1 1 month ago
Beautiful piece,makes me want to visit England again !
bbbaaarrraaakkk 1 month ago
Comment removed
HamzahMohammed1 1 month ago
A beautiful & very relaxing piece of music
mike81041 1 month ago
Probably the most beautiful piece of music I will ever hear in my lifetime.
GunsOilDrugs 1 month ago 2
DAVID CROWDER BAND
seddy47 1 month ago
I sat in my car with my wife in Exmoor with the sunroof open and watched a lark singing his heart out over the moor. It was 1983, the sun was shining and I was happy....I'll never forget and this music is my happiness
DriveEspana 1 month ago 36
It is a favorite of mine too, but I am only commenting because of the comment placed here just before mine...........funny!
gja111075 1 month ago 2
It reminds one of apple rotting in an old school desk, the finest of hairs dropping from a pensioners head following a curly perm, clouds, poodles balls, meow, there is something of everything here I think you will agree,,,, truly magnificent, I am sure you will concur.
sijag68 2 months ago
@sijag68
lol
GranulatedStuff 1 month ago
@GranulatedStuff Dear Granulatedstuff,
One is well pleased that one is not taken in any way too seriously!!!,, that is the whole idea, my dear fellow. I rummage in the lesser quarters of my degenerate brain, and remove from the slit trench of reason, such nonsense as you perceive glad you enjoyed my weak attempt at whit.
sijag68 1 month ago
Beautiful! :)
TheFCBarcelona77 2 months ago
no doubt a very beautiful piece of music
DrJeckell100 2 months ago 3
This piece calms me in times of turmoil and inspires me when little else can. There is no other piece out there that speaks to me like this. My soul is warmed every time I hear it. Thank you Vaughan Willliams for such an unparalleled piece of classical music.
dreamray33 2 months ago 3
beautiful, instantly a fav, the painting too, by whom?
annamuseet 2 months ago
Sick on a journey / over parched fields / dreams wander on. ~ Basho
MsJamesFord 2 months ago
I remember Iona Brown playing with Pinchas Zukerman at the Proms in the 70's. A beautiful player indeed. Wasn't she closely associated with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields?
doubleotwentyone 2 months ago
10.26 Gives me the shivers every time, God its good to be a Britain
crassazell 2 months ago
@crassazell We are on the same page. That is such a spine tingling segment that gets me every time as well. Not to take away from the rest of this piece which is absolutely magnificent. How could anyone ever write music which portrays Englands countryside so well? Englands adopted son? I see why.
cagepondroad 2 months ago
only one word to describe this ....STUNNING .. :))))
Hypnobunny1 3 months ago
They played this at my grandmas funeral, she died six months ago today and I always cry when I hear this coz she was so special and the bit at the end reminds me of her as she used to be a ballet dancer rip grandma
Chloeamberhart 3 months ago 2
4:21 what is it with English composers and cuckoo calls?
dimsimlord 3 months ago
Nice
Triumphit1 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
No other piece of music captivates the moment of 'death' so well as this, the playful ascendance of the soul above the cornfields and meadows, toying with the final desire to attach to the life-that-once-was-lived, and then the glorious breaking-free of all bonds with the mortal coil, with no regret, no fear of heaven or hell, no attachments, absolute letting go......
LeighGhostTao 3 months ago
No other piece of music captivates the moment of 'death' so well as this, the playful ascendance of the soul above the cornfields and meadows, toying with the final desire to attach to the life-the-once-was-lived, and then the glorious breaking-free of all bonds with the mortal coil, with no regret, no fear of heaven or hell, no attachments, absolute letting go......
LeighGhostTao 3 months ago 5
LittleBecca - the original recording with your aunt, Iona Brown, was in 1972 in the Kingsway Hall, London, with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Neville Marriner. I had the original vinal LP and more recently bought it on CD by Argo no. 414595-2 released in 1985. You can buy it now at Amazon for £5.99. Best wishes.
pm966 3 months ago 5
thank you NPR. :)
jeaniebaby001 3 months ago
This was played at my aunts funeral. I think she played it but i cant find a copy of her playinhLg. Her name was Iona Brown. Does anyone know where i can find it?
LittleBecca1234 3 months ago
@LittleBecca1234 That was the recording I fell in love with. I still have the vinyl, and hope to turn it into a cd one of these days. Your aunt was a beautiful player. :-)
GoddessOfGuinness 2 months ago
@LittleBecca1234 This is her, and this is the most exquisite version ever of this work.
MrBassflute 2 months ago
15 minutes of fame or 15 minutes of Vaughan Williams...Hmm
curmudgeon113 3 months ago
The more I listen, the less English it sounds. But Ralph was unto a winner here. A classic to last the ages.
speedyg2012 3 months ago
Comment removed
speedyg2012 3 months ago
I listened to this whilst returning home after a horrible flight that lasted far longer than it should have. Hearing this, and flying over the green fields of England at dawn, really brought a lump to my throat. It was really good to be home. Brilliant.
willybobs5 4 months ago 2
@willybobs5 Glad "Lark" made your return easier. I've heardEn.is a lovely land. And inspires so many-- as with this immortal work.
windstorm1000 4 months ago
This Song runs through me. I simply Love music. And this song dances inside
me and it calms the fire inside of me. :)
imbackyay009 4 months ago
Hello from NYC.....WQXR just played this today and I ran home to YouTube to hear it again....ecstasy!! Now I will try and locate the CD... Envisioning a Constable and/or Turner oil while reading Great Expectations...
Glorious! Thank you for posting
jotheodorou
jotheodorou 4 months ago
I like this particular recording the best
2ManyNoobs 4 months ago
They speak of 'heartbreak', but this is pure 'soulbreak' every time,and it feels like redemption: with a Constable painting as a backdrop too!!....only 'those' who know......
LeighGhostTao 5 months ago
@LeighGhostTao Yes.
windstorm1000 4 months ago
Amazing! my favourite piece of classical music I can't get enough...
louilou1000 5 months ago
This beautiful song makes me think of a picturesce little english village with farms and large fields of wheat and seeds
ButterKnife1337 5 months ago
@antisheepmentality fantasia on a theme of thomas tallis. if you've seen Master and Commander, they play play thomas tallis in that. it's incredibly beautiful.
DumasForever53 5 months ago
What an absolutely heart-wrenching piece - this and his Talis fantasia are two of my favourites. VW definitely hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves in North America!
raeannmac 5 months ago
the best recording of this i know of. bliss. the low, muted strings in the parallels that RVW did so well, make one say 'aaaaahhhh' and melt into the furniture. The violin solo, especially in the first 5 min or so, lets me escape the bonds around me, for a bit.
gesualdolives 6 months ago
@antisheepmentality The first few movements of his 5th Symphony are subtle, meandering and moving like Lark Ascending. Listen to the gentle calls of the French Horn in the beginning of the 5th, I think you will like...
MrSwj2009 6 months ago
Beautiful!
ajaltoun123 7 months ago
One of Britain's greatest composers and yet many here in the States do not know him.This is a beautiful work.If you do not feel something wonderful or powerful in your heart then truly you have lost the capacity to feel anything.
Fennec2828 7 months ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
I would love to write 500 characters and i could about this piece but i wont because one word will do it nicely - - ready, sure? "PERFECT" i did an 11hr climb in the french Ercins ealrier this year and the day after me and my mate sat listeing to this in total silents..... speaks volumes!!! come vote for 2012 lets get it back no1 in the classic fm hall of fame.... told you iwrite 500
MrSnakey77 7 months ago
I would love to write 500 characters and i could about this piece but i wont because on word will do it nicely - - ready, sure? "PERFECT" i did an 11hr climb in the french Ercins ealrier this year and the day after me and my mate sat listeing to this in total silents..... speaks volumes!!! come vote for 2012 lets get it back no1 in the classic fm hall of fame.... told you iwrite 500
MrSnakey77 7 months ago
I know the person who wrote this was English but this song reminds me of rural Australia, probably because they use it in the Year My Voice Broke, one of my favourite movies. It's a lovely piece of music.
AnnoyingLittleShit 7 months ago
@AnnoyingLittleShit
Still one of my favourites...& until I find another I want this played at my Funeral. I LOVE IT.
grahaus 7 months ago
Score and Orchestral parts for The Lark Ascending can be found at SheetMusicX [dot] com
hamasburi 8 months ago
This track reminds me of British black and white movies, every Saturday I escaped a large family by sitting alone in my aunties house and watching afternoon movies on TV. It equally reminds me of watching childrens black and white British film foundation movies at the saturday picture show for children.
I picture rolling fields, sunny days and a gentler time as I listen to this piece.
eveyoz 8 months ago
Comment removed
eveyoz 8 months ago
Comment removed
corpsemunger 8 months ago
@corpsemunger To point a finger at someone and say he is Evil is Evil in itself.
einstienear 8 months ago
@einstienear Good job I was joking then
corpsemunger 8 months ago
@corpsemunger Oh I knew you were joking. I'm just sick and tired of that ASSHOLE - IN EVERY VIDEO ON YOUTUBE, that posts something that has to do with the "likes/dislike" ratings that go along the lines of "x amount of people did this to the dislike button"
einstienear 8 months ago
@einstienear I totally agree actually, It doesn't bug me much - this is actually the first time I did it... Im just going to delete it :)
corpsemunger 8 months ago
I must confess that this piece of music is one of a few that if I hear it, I will stop in my tracks and listen....pure symphonic genius, so touching, so moving and haunting, who could not love and appreciate this.
egosummort 8 months ago
david crowder*band
thedannymoore314 8 months ago
Thanks!
eveyoz 8 months ago
Does anyone know the name of the artist and picture?
eveyoz 8 months ago
@eveyoz it's The Cornfield by Constable. perfect choice!
dawnbreaks 8 months ago
@eveyoz I don't but, I would bet if you sent an email to the person who posted it they would pass it along to you. Who knows you might make a friend! ;:~}}}
caseypons 8 months ago
this wouldn't be out of place in an Elder Scrolls game to be honest, lovely stuff
FV312 8 months ago
Who is the performers?
alexander1998100 9 months ago
beautiful. this one will be on my track list while I'll be studying for my exams..14 minutes beauty, it helps me a lot when I need a break...it gives me new energy.
lilic1 9 months ago
Whoever clicked 'dislike' has no soul...
cobbybrook 9 months ago
Just stunning - through a mixture of reading tolkien and photography around the Chichester area i've been planning loads of concepts around an intensely british music project - Vaughan Williams is King - he just summarises it so perfectly - with the achingly beautiful melodies that you really can't forget - a British institution we can be really proud of
locioverdistance 10 months ago 18
@locioverdistance Funnily enough, this piece of music always conjours up images of The Lord of the Rings as well!
jes79a 10 months ago
@locioverdistance First time I've been back to this for a while! I presume Bosham in particular brought this fine piece of music to mind?
MGDriver99 2 months ago
@locioverdistance Interesting you mentioned Tolkien....I've often thought Howard Shore's beautiful Lord of the Rings soundtrack borrowed a bit from Williams...... (Tolkien even looks a bit like Williams, lol) Good luck with your project!
ecurb10 1 month ago
Leaves me speechless every time. One of my favourite composers ever.
poisonelegance 10 months ago
My favourite classical piece. Fourteen minutes and fifty four seconds of pure escapism. Makes me think of old England every time. Many thanks for uploading this one. So nice to hear it again after a long time.
Fenner1976 10 months ago 33
Love this to bits
provjaro 10 months ago
As far as I'm concerned,the most beautiful piece for solo violin and orchestra.....
stemonick 10 months ago
chills... every time i hear that intro... chills...
RightSideisLeft 1 year ago
cool.
popebenadict16 1 year ago