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Donald Macleod explores the defining effect that war had on Vaughan Williams’s life and music.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain’s most loved composers, and best-known symphonists, writing nine symphonies that span almost 50 years of his career. These works evoke a wide range of moods, each creating its own unique world, from his first stormy choral symphony, through the aggressive and the tranquil, to his final enigmatic, haunting ninth. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Vaughan Williams - a man who helped forge a new identity for English music in the 20th Century - paying special attention to the symphonies. In Wednesday’s episode, Donald explores the defining effect that war had on Vaughan Williams - his experiences as a serving soldier in World War I, and how this shaped his approach to music making, and then his experiences during World War II when he was too old to serve, and his hopes for peace in the future. We’ll also be hearing from two symphonies with links to war – the Third, β€œA Pastoral Symphony”, and the Sixth.

Dona Nobis Pacem - Reconciliation
Sheila Armstrong (soprano)
John Carol Case (bass-baritone)
London Philharmonic Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Adrian Boult (conductor)

Symphony No 3 β€œA Pastoral Symphony” - II. Lento moderato
HallΓ© Orchestra
Sir Mark Elder (conductor)

English Folk Song Suite - III. March, "Folk Songs from Somerset"
Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Wg Cdr Duncan Stubbs (conductor)

Job - Introduction; Sarabande of the Sons of God; Epilogue
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

Music for the film 49th Parallel - Prelude (closing titles)
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic
Rumon Gamba (conductor)

Symphony No 6 - Epilogue
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Berglund (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Dona Nobis Pacem - Reconciliation

    Singer: Sheila Armstrong. Singer: John Carol Case. Choir: London Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult. Conductor: John Alldis.
    • WARNER CLASSICS 5747822.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 4.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 3 "A Pastoral Symphony" (2nd mvt, Lento moderato)

    Orchestra: HallΓ©. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Halle CD HLL 7540.
    • Halle.
    • 3.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    English Folk Song Suite (3rd mvt, "Folk Songs from Somerset")

    Ensemble: R A F Central Band. Conductor: Duncan Stubbs.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN10847.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Job - Introduction; Sarabande of the Sons of God; Epilogue

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Chandos : CHSA 5180.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Music for the film 49th Parallel - Prelude (closing titles)

    Orchestra: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-10529.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 16.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 6 in E minor (Epilogue)

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Berglund.
    • WARNER CLASSICS: 2161462.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 18.

Broadcast

  • Wed 10 Feb 2021 12:00

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