Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress

[Guest]

I've never felt inclined to explore this work, based - as it is - on one of English Literature's least appealing classics- but when the Hickox recording turned up ina charity shop yesterday (£2.49!), I felt duty bound to investigate.

To my surprise, I'm very taken with it: some wonderful melodic writing (with the ghost of the 5th symphony hanging over it) and great singing, though some peope swear by the Boult version.

Any thoughts?

[amateur51]

I've never felt inclined to explore this work, based - as it is - on one of English Literature's least appealing classics- but when the Hickox recording turned up ina charity shop yesterday (£2.49!), I felt duty bound to investigate.

To my surprise, I'm very taken with it: some wonderful melodic writing (with the ghost of the 5th symphony hanging over it) and great singing, though some peope swear by the Boult version.

Any thoughts?

Yes Sir! Me Sir! Why are you so agin Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, as evidenced in your opening remark, Sir?

[Mandryka]

Yes Sir! Me Sir! Why are you so agin Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, as evidenced in your opening remark, Sir?

It's never grabbed me, I'm afraid. But, since I lack personal religiosity, I'm probably not its 'target reader'.

Actually making any sort of opera out of it (and V-W was keen for his work to be recognised as such, rather than an oratorio, which it definitely isn't), let alone a good one, counts as a quite magnifiscent feat of inspiration.

[BBMmk2]

I don't think religious affliatiopns has anything to do with appreciating this great work.

Funnily enough, I only heard it the other day. Boult's version!!

[EdgeleyRob]

The Boult version is to die for, glorious.If my house was on fire and I could only save one recording (could be the title of a new thread maybe) this probably would be it (or maybe the 5th symphony).

[Mandryka]

The Boult version is to die for, glorious.If my house was on fire and I could only save one recording (could be the title of a new thread maybe) this probably would be it (or maybe the 5th symphony).

Do you know if the current CD version includes a libretto? I'm thinking of buying it for a friend and I know he cares about these things.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have it in the EMI 30 CD box, which doesn't have a libretto, but the English singing is so clearly recorded that it hardly matters.

[Bryn]

RVW also provided the music for a radio drama production of The Pilgrim's Progress. A new version of it was broadcast in the late '70s or early '80s on Radio 3. I have a rather poor cassette recording of that broadcast.

I see than Hyperion did something with it in 1990:

[Andrew Slater]

Do you know if the current CD version includes a libretto? I'm thinking of buying it for a friend and I know he cares about these things.

Yes, it does (but it might be advisable to include a magnifying glass with it - the print is rather small!)

[EdgeleyRob]

Do you know if the current CD version includes a libretto? I'm thinking of buying it for a friend and I know he cares about these things.

Yes, but as EA says its not needed.

[EdgeleyRob]

You beat me to it Andrew.

[Mandryka]

Thanks, both! :)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

RVW also provided the music for a radio drama production of The Pilgrim's Progress. A new version of it was broadcast in the late '70s or early '80s on Radio 3. I have a rather poor cassette recording of that broadcast.

I see than Hyperion did something with it in 1990:

I have that Hyperion recording and it's rather impressive, compressing The Pilgrim's Progress into microscopic form, while still remaining "viable".
There was also VW's Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains, culled from The Pilgrim's Progress sketched after composer believed he would never complete it.

[Bryn]

I have that Hyperion recording and it's rather impressive, compressing The Pilgrim's Progress into microscopic form, while still remaining "viable".
There was also VW's Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains, culled from The Pilgrim's Progress sketched after composer believed he would never complete it.

I have just ordered the 4 CD RVW Choral Music set which includes it. According to Zavvi I should have it in a week or so. Trouble is, Zavvi is part of the same group of traders as SendIt and The Hut. I will just have to wait a see.

[Biffo]

I think the Hickox version is vastly superior to the Boult, beautifully sung, played and recorded. I was greatly taken by the Boult when it appeared on LP but Hickox surpasses it in every way. If the house was on fire I would probably burn to death, being unable to decide whether to save Boult or Barbirolli in the 5th Symphony (or possibly Boult's Job).