Amazing pieces of classical music - 29
Ralp Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 in D Major, IRV. 86: III. Romanza - Lento performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of André Previn in 1971. This work was written between 1938 and 1943, and in style it represents a shift away from the violent dissonance of Vaughan Williams' Fourth Symphony, and thus a return to the more gentler style of the earlier Third "Pastoral" Symphony.
Many of the musical themes in this particular piece of classical music stem from the composer's then-unfinished operatic work, The Pilgrim's Progress. The symphony was an immediate success at its premiere in 1943, and is still frequently performed in concert and on record. David Hurwitz when reviewing it on Youtube got about eightteen good recordings of this single work to talk about. Not bad for a piece that's not that hugely well-know.
André Previn's recording of Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 is today widely praised for its warmth, lyrical beauty, and noble interpretation, with many calling it a top recommendation. Its slow tempos and compassionate approach highlight the symphony's meditative and spiritual qualities, though some critics suggest it lacks the latent unease or tragedy found in other versions. For listeners seeking a deeply spiritual and passionate experience, it is an excellent choice, especially as a starting point for those new to the great symphony-writers like Vaughan Williams.
Dave Hurwitz wrote after a new release of the recording that "in contrast to Adrian Boult’s recording (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1954), where his all-knowing conducting (he was a lifelong friend of the composer) occasionally takes on a relaxed and autumnal air, Previn’s consistently vibrant renditions reflect his fresh encounters with the music." I couldn't agree more because there's indeed a fine line between a performance with knowledge and one that sticks more to the score.
With the Romanza as third movement in mind the composer wrote in the original manuscript, heading this particular movement as its spiritual core, these words taken from John Bunyan (the author of The Pilgrim's Progress):
Upon that place there stood a cross
And a little below a sepulchre … Then he said
He hath given me rest by his sorrow and
Life by his death
The inscription was omitted from the published score though in accordance with the composer's wish that the symphony should be regarded as absolute music.
[media=https://youtu.be/DUFHIRW6AhA]
Many of the musical themes in this particular piece of classical music stem from the composer's then-unfinished operatic work, The Pilgrim's Progress. The symphony was an immediate success at its premiere in 1943, and is still frequently performed in concert and on record. David Hurwitz when reviewing it on Youtube got about eightteen good recordings of this single work to talk about. Not bad for a piece that's not that hugely well-know.
André Previn's recording of Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 is today widely praised for its warmth, lyrical beauty, and noble interpretation, with many calling it a top recommendation. Its slow tempos and compassionate approach highlight the symphony's meditative and spiritual qualities, though some critics suggest it lacks the latent unease or tragedy found in other versions. For listeners seeking a deeply spiritual and passionate experience, it is an excellent choice, especially as a starting point for those new to the great symphony-writers like Vaughan Williams.
Dave Hurwitz wrote after a new release of the recording that "in contrast to Adrian Boult’s recording (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1954), where his all-knowing conducting (he was a lifelong friend of the composer) occasionally takes on a relaxed and autumnal air, Previn’s consistently vibrant renditions reflect his fresh encounters with the music." I couldn't agree more because there's indeed a fine line between a performance with knowledge and one that sticks more to the score.
With the Romanza as third movement in mind the composer wrote in the original manuscript, heading this particular movement as its spiritual core, these words taken from John Bunyan (the author of The Pilgrim's Progress):
Upon that place there stood a cross
And a little below a sepulchre … Then he said
He hath given me rest by his sorrow and
Life by his death
The inscription was omitted from the published score though in accordance with the composer's wish that the symphony should be regarded as absolute music.
[media=https://youtu.be/DUFHIRW6AhA]
