Vaughan Williams - A London Symphony: II Lento

[valadyr2]

Man, I love those cold and distant harmonies. Hard to think of some piece as atmospheric as this one. Maybe the Rautavaara Cantus Arcticus' second movement, or of the passacaglia of the Shostakovich violin concerto no. 1.

[IncaRoad01]

A couple of years back, I was in hospital for a few months, and at times, it seemed touch and go. This was one of the pieces I had on my iPod. Man, those opening chords ... so dark, foreboding. This piece matched my mood perfectly. It was my only comfort.

[arcturusvmoon]

This movement is truly wonderful, so majestic

[feelinglistless]

Then John Williams borrowed it for the twin moons section of Star Wars. Duh-duuuuh-duh-da-de-da-da

[pcwat2002]

What to say except "wonderful"?

[TheLynnl]

This is one of my absolute favourite pieces. I had it played at my Dad's funeral so it makes me feel sad but I still love it. Vaughan Williams rules ;).

[saunders2159]

I believe this movement incorporates VW's allusion to a street cry, his 'Lavender' tune, wonderfully and extensively elaborated. Lionel Bart uses more or less the same cry in the 'Who will buy' sequence in 'Oliver!', not to such sublime effect, however.

[alciefrederic]

The quality of this recording is so good. I have the digitally remastered version of Adrian Boult and it's completely crap.

[whouster]

I'm a huge fan of Vaughan Williams' brooding and atmospheric pieces. I was pointed toward this piece after watching a documentary about the London Smog disaster of 1952. One of the interviewees mentioned this movement as being the perfect soundtrack to it - and he's absolutely right!

[NostalgicNorthland]

Impossible to explain in words what Vaughan Williams music does for me.....whatever it does one thing is sure, he has brought me great happiness and conjured up the most wonderful images. A truly remarkable composer...who brings me to tears very easily.

[drfstckdrum]

Went to Lawrence University for my college audition. Auditioned, and then listened to their orchestra rehearse. They started playing this movement, and I just started weeping at the beauty present in this piece. Gorgeous.

[Crouchenders]

Williams has his own distinct style. Trying to work it out.

[smzmusic]

There's a lot of horrible recordings of this piece, thank you for posting a decent one.

[elmo6032]

@smzmusic agreed.

[elmo6032]

@smzmusic agreed.

[mrotwist]

According to the composer himself, this symphony should be designated by the more appropriate title of "Symphony by a Londoner," because the composer is presenting his impression of the city and its life in music. In the middle of the third movement, one can hear perhaps a London lad playing a harmonica. And, of course, Bib Ben makes appearances in both the Introduction and the Epilogue.

[helentang]

too beautiful...

[thebbcamerican]

This has been one of my favorites for years. I agree on the 6:14 (& 7:14) moment, specifically as it builds to 6:27. He, naturally, extends it even more at the 7 min. reprise. The emotion is heightened by the dramatic and beautiful way it quiets down at about 8:14. His pieces The Lark Ascending, English Folk Song Suite, and Oboe Concerto in A minor, among others are also brilliant. English composers (a la V.W., Elgar et al.) are underrated.

[Gito360]

Well I guess I'm just going to have to buy the damn thing! Blumesberry square on a November Afternoon must be listened to in only the Highest Fedelity Sound System that can be musterd by a broke-ass like me. I have something to save for now.

[btonist]

We did a marching band show from the London Symphony and got 1st place you should check it out search under Northwestern 4A State Championship 2008

[Gito360]

How can you name this song? I like to think that all this was percieved by a series of events that unfolded before him and he had the will to remember it and write it down. Its fall in Ga now and when I go out for a walk I hum this as the leaves are falling and the wind is skirting them across the fields. I have to pause and watch this sometimes, and this song inhances the experience even more. So beautiful.

[jkenny313]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music written in the 20th Century.

[HenryOrientJnr]

One of my favourite RVW pieces. I have often found myself humming the theme you mentioned which starts at 6:14 and wondering "what is that?". It usually takes me a few minutes to remember and I panic that I will lose the melody before I identify it. It is extremely beautiful and the whole movement is evocative and dreamy.

[mgyucht1]

I've recently become very attracted to VW's music for its complex harmonic lines, which used to be really confusing to me, definitely a unique aspect of VW's composition.

[Haruyuki]

I was sleeping... It was 2am, and my radio was tuned in to our local classical music station. I heard the part at 1:11... I don't know if I was half-awake or the music woke me, but that eerie part sucked me in completely. It was so slow, it was hypnotizing. I was so anxious! What is the name of this piece! I have to know now! So I woke up immediately, grabbed my phone and thank god for the SMS service that lets us know the title of the current piece being aired.

Love this movement.

[IncaRoad01]

@Haruyuki Great story ;o) It was worth waking up for and finding out, that's for sure!