Finding his Voice

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain’s most loved composers, and best-known symphonists, writing nine symphonies which span almost fifty 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 Twentieth Century - paying special attention to the symphonies. In Tuesday’s episode, Donald explores Vaughan Williams’ formative years, and how his discovery of folk music, his studies in Paris with Ravel, and work on a religious hymnal all combined to create his distinctive musical voice. Among today’s music, we will be hearing from Vaughan Williams’ first symphony “A Sea Symphony”, a work which sees all of those elements come together.

Bushes and Briars
Gabrieli Consort
Paul McCreesh (director)

God that madest heaven and earth
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Richard Marlow (director)

The Lark Ascending (original piano and violin version)
Jennifer Pike (violin)
Martin Roscoe (piano)

Norfolk Rhapsody No 1
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox (conductor)

On Wenlock Edge - On Bredon Hill
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernard Haitink (conductor)

A Sea Symphony - Scherzo: The Waves
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips