BaL 8.07.17 - Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem

[Pulcinella]

I didn't get to listen to all the BaL (might catch up later) but hope to hear the winner later this morning, to decide if I need it to complement (supplement?) the versions I already have: RVW, Boult, Hickox.
The Hyperion 4CD Choral music set that it's in looks appealing.
The new CD shelves are finally getting properly fitted (i.e., attached to the wall and beading put round the edges) this week. I'm sure that there will be some room spare so......

[teamsaint]

I didn't get to listen to all the BaL (might catch up later) but hope to hear the winner later this morning, to decide if I need it to complement (supplement?) the versions I already have: RVW, Boult, Hickox.
The Hyperion 4CD Choral music set that it's in looks appealing.
The new CD shelves are finally getting properly fitted (i.e., attached to the wall and beading put round the edges) this week. I'm sure that there will be some room spare so......

That set does look tempting, although I might just try to get a used copy of the Hickox.
Edit: cheaper new than used in market place.

Not really an unmissable BaL.
The most interesting but perhaps rather unsupported comments,I thought, were about the the Atlanta/ Shaw recording.

Hope the shelf fitting goes well !!

[BBMmk2]

Looks like I'll have to buy the Matthew Best and the Richard Hickok! As I mentioned earlier, I have theDavid Hill, already!

[visualnickmos]

Bet you could

I think you've won the bet. I owe you a drink! This really is amazing - enjoying every note.... thanks for pointing me towards it.

[ardcarp]

RVW was such a good conductor of his own Music,

The late David Willcocks had a tale about RVW conducting one of his choral works (Hodie?) at a 3 Choirs Festival. At rehearsal there was one tricky passage that was very scrappy, and RVW's suggested remedy was to say to all concerned, "Whatever you do, don't watch me!"

[visualnickmos]

An excellent BAL, ten out of ten on all boxes. I have Boult and Hickox; and yes - Sir Adrian's recording is wonderfully moving, and I don't think anything will displace my affection for it. Each time I liten to it, I marvel at the absolutely gorgeous 'solo' violin - I wonder if any of you music professionals and experts would know who he or she is? I can't find any reference to the violinist on the EMI 2-CD set... Just curious, that's all.

It seems that nearly all the versions illustrated had something special to offer; I did rather like the 'winner' - (they'll all winners, in their own way)

As for RVW's own recording - WOW!

[Pulcinella]

I wasn't listening on the main hi-fi system, so might not have heard to best advantage, but I thought that the chorus in the winning performance could have done with a bit more weight, much as I enjoyed the clarity.
A bit undecided about buying it, therefore, especially as I have one of the other discs in the 4CD set.
One to sleep on for a while, I think, as it's not as though I'm unhappy with the versions I have.

If you go for the Hickox, ts, you get Sancta civitas too, well worth getting to know if you don't already.
Would hate to be the tenor soloist in that, apart from earning the fee; only one phrase at the very end, and hard these days (and even back when it was written?) to keep a straight face when singing it, I would imagine.
Better not say any more, or the post will be censored.


PS: Just spotted that the pianoforte arrangement in the vocal score of Sancta civitas is by Havergal Brian!

[pastoralguy]

An excellent BAL, ten out of ten on all boxes. I have Boult and Hickox; and yes - Sir Adrian's recording is wonderfully moving, and I don't think anything will displace my affection for it. Each time I liten to it, I marvel at the absolutely gorgeous 'solo' violin - I wonder if any of you music professionals and experts would know who he or she is? I can't find any reference to the violinist on the EMI 2-CD set... Just curious, that's all.

It seems that nearly all the versions illustrated had something special to offer; I did rather like the 'winner' - (they'll all winners, in their own way)

As for RVW's own recording - WOW!

Possibly the wonderful Rodney Friend who often led the LPO when Sir Adrian was conducting. Friend also made a fine recording of the Britten Violin Concerto as well as a lovely cd of Kreisler 'Lollipops'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The late David Willcocks had a tale about RVW conducting one of his choral works (Hodie?) at a 3 Choirs Festival. At rehearsal there was one tricky passage that was very scrappy, and RVW's suggested remedy was to say to all concerned, "Whatever you do, don't watch me!"

- there's a similar comment from a rehearsal of his Sixth Symphony in the Lewis Foreman article which edgey gave the link to in #30:

Oh, you chaps are all right. You know it but I've never conducted it before. There's one place where you're playing one thing and I seem to be conducting something else. I think the best way is not to listen - don't you?

... seems like a modest subterfuge to get the performers "onside" - I bet they watched like hawks and listened like owls as a result!

[BBMmk2]

The chosen version doesn't seem to be widely available. Apart from a box set from Hyperion how else can the recording be obtained, if on amazon for over £70

[pastoralguy]

The chosen version doesn't seem to be widely available. Apart from a box set from Hyperion how else can the recording be obtained, if on amazon for over £70

Try Hyperion 's own site or Presto.

[Andrew Slater]

It seems to be available on a single disc from Hyperion:

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66655

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It seems to be available on a single disc from Hyperion:
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66655

... and from Amazon for around a tenner:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Choral/Vaughan-Williams-Works-CDA-66655-Corydon-Singers/B000002ZSU

[Nick Armstrong]

Hickox (I think Bryn Terfel is superb)

It was the young Terfel's voice that stood out for me during this BAL...

[BBMmk2]

Thanks guys! I thought I saw a disc with the Howells Requiem on as well but I think that one be too extortionate!