BaL 8.07.17 - Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

0930
Building a Library: Alexandra Coghlan recommends the best recording of Vaughan Williams's plea for peace, tolerance and understanding written in 1936, his Dona Nobis Pacem. The piece is on a huge scale, scored for soloists, chorus and large orchestra, in six continuous parts, and the phrase Dona nobis pacem "Give us peace" recurs throughout; a theme with perennial relevance.

Available versions:-

Judith Howarth, Sir Thomas Allen, Corydon Singers, Corydon Orchestra, Matthew Best
Sheila Armstrong, John Carol Case, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Chorus, Sir Adrian Boult
Bryn Terfel, Yvonne Kenny, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Richard Hickox
Christina Pier, & Matthew Brook, The Bach Choir & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill
Christopher Maltman, Sarah Fox, Colorado Symphony Chorus & Colorado Symphony, Andrew Litton
Carmen Pelton, Nathan Gunn, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Robert Shaw
Jessica Rivera, Brett Polegato, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano (download)
Edith Wiens, Brian Rayner Cook, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Renee Flynn and Roy Henderson, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ralph Vaughan Williams

[Pulcinella]

Alpie: the orchestra in the RVW-conducted performance is the BBC Symphony (Presto's listing is wrong if that's where you got the information from; the LPO are the performers for the coupling, the fifth symphony).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Symphonies-Orchestras/Symphony-No-5-Proms-Nobis-Pacem/B000WM86UW/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498819875&sr=1-4&keywords=dona+nobis+pacem

This RVW performance, recorded on 13 November 1936, was also released as a BBC MM CD, as the 'filler' (not identified on the spine) to a Menuhin performance of the Beethoven violin concerto: volume 20, number 4 (January 2012).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Violin-Concerto-Vaughan-Williams/dp/B007V4DGJ0/ref=sr_1_18?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498819954&sr=1-18&keywords=dona+nobis+pacem

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Alpie: the orchestra in the RVW-conducted performance is the BBC Symphony

Thanks for that. Duly amended.

Does anyone know who the vocal contributors are in the Robert Shaw recording?

[Pulcinella]

Thanks for that. Duly amended.

Does anyone know who the vocal contributors are in the Robert Shaw recording?

Yes: see here (shot of back of CD case).
Carmen Pelton and Nathan Gunn

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barber-Prayers-Kierkegaard-profanna-Williams/dp/B0000064U9/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498825765&sr=1-7&keywords=dona+nobis+pacem

(BBC Symphony Chorus on the RVW recording if you want to add that too, Alpie! I should have said in my previous post; sorry! You could add 'and Chorus' to the Shaw as well.)

[PJPJ]

Alpie: the orchestra in the RVW-conducted performance is the BBC Symphony (Presto's listing is wrong if that's where you got the information from; the LPO are the performers for the coupling, the fifth symphony).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Symphonies-Orchestras/Symphony-No-5-Proms-Nobis-Pacem/B000WM86UW/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1498819875&sr=1-4&keywords=dona+nobis+pacem

This RVW performance, recorded on 13 November 1936, was also released as a BBC MM CD, as the 'filler' (not identified on the spine) to a Menuhin performance of the Beethoven violin concerto: volume 20, number 4 (January 2012).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-V...na+nobis+pacem

I was going to write that the Somm recording with VW conducting is essential to any lover of the music VW (the Symphony No 5 is wonderful), but I see that's what the quoted review on Somm's website says (so I'll simply agree):

https://www.somm-recordings.com/recording/vaughan-williams-symphony-no-5-in-d-major-dona-nobis-pacem/

[PJPJ]

Thanks for that. Duly amended.

Does anyone know who the vocal contributors are in the Robert Shaw recording?

Telarc's Robert Shaw bio

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Telarc's Robert Shaw bio

Many thanks for that.

[visualnickmos]

Just looking at my shelves, and discovered that I have Boult's and Hickox's recordings! What could possibly go wrong?
I will not be adding another.... that's for sure.

[Pulcinella]

Just looking at my shelves, and discovered that I have Boult's and Hickox's recordings! What could possibly go wrong?
I will not be adding another.... that's for sure.

Are you really sure?

(Yes, I have those two too, but the 1936 RVW is VERY special!)

[visualnickmos]

Are you really sure?

(Yes, I have those two too, but the 1936 RVW is VERY special!)

I am sure it is, but I just don't think I could live with such an antiquitous recording...

[seabright]

I guess the Maurice Abravanel / Utah Symphony 'Vanguard' CD (rec. 1966) won't be in the running, due to it being "not available" which is a pity, as it's a splendid recording, coupled with an equally splendid RVW6. The 'Beat! Beat! Drums!' section is on You Tube for anyone interested in a 'taster' ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_weDfWw_pas

[EdgeleyRob]

....the 1936 RVW is VERY special!)

Yes indeed

[EdgeleyRob]

I am sure it is, but I just don't think I could live with such an antiquitous recording...

Bet you could

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... the 1936 RVW is VERY special!)

Yes indeed

RVW was such a good conductor of his own Music, as shown in his recordings of his Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, this DNP, and the Old King Cole Suite. It beggars belief that he wasn't given the same recording opportunities that were (rightly) enjoyed by Elgar. (I have five CDs which feature this work - Boult, Best ... and three versions of the composer's own recording: on PEARL, SOMM, and the BBCMusMag!)

[BBMmk2]

I am on cloud 9! This work has helped me an awful lot, these past few monthsd. It has given me good therapy. to say the least. I have David Hill's Naxos version. I be intereste3d as always to know about RVW's recording!