Ralph Vaughan Williams - Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 in D minor (1906)

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 in D minor (1906)
for orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox

A slow movement and scherzo, that was to have been the 2nd part of a "Norfolk Symphony", a work based upon Norfolk folk tunes. However RVW abandoned the project and the work lay unperformed since 1914. Fortunately the manuscript has recently been resurrected, and in 2002 it was recorded for the first time.

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Music

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• ralph
• vaughan
• williams
• norfolk
• rhapsody2
• rarities

[LaPersonaNonGrata]

Marvelous music. Helps me to think clearly.

[271250cl]

Hi - reply for Kapariz - yes Vaughan Williams fitted this tune to the words "By all your saints still striving..." and included it in his landmark edition of the English Hymnal. He called the tune 'Kings Lynn' after the norfolk town where he collected the folk song in the very early 1900's. It's also used in RVW's "Six Studies in English Folk Song".

[kapariz44]

The opening of this rhapsody is also serves as a hymn tune, but I can't remember either the name of the tune or the first line of the hymn off the top of my head right now.

[StevenKeirstead]

I’m going to buy the disc now. Thanks!

[benbisley]

@ashbytimuk

I can say no more than you. Thank you.

[Ivanhoe2]

When members of the general public write to say that a certain piece of music reminds them of a time or place, hopefully pleasant, that must be the greatest accolade that can be paid to a composer's work, I think. Many thanks for posting this piece. Best wishes.

[irishmaestro]

Wow - can't believe this hasn't been heard for nearly 100 years. It's astonishingly beautiful. I just hope Rhapsody No.3 in G Major is found at some stage!

[Midnight722]

Thank you so much for this.

[TK42138]

This is just sublime. Reminds me of walking along Holme Beach.

[matejpatek]

Thanks for posting this, such a great piece of music deserves to be listened A LOT!