BaL 23.01.21 - Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 - Building a Library
Mark Lowther recommends her favourite recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Songs of Travel.

Available versions:-


David Aler, Bengt Forsberg *

Thomas Allen, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle *

Chris Booth-Jones, Igor Kennaway

Ernst Buscagne, Tom McGrath

Neal Davies, Hallé Orchestra, Mark Elder

Gerald Finley, Stephen Ralls *

Shura Gehrman, Adrian Farmer

James Gilchrist, Anna Tilbrook

Dietrich Henschel, Fritz Schwinghammer

Joshua Hopkins (baritone), Jerad Mosbey

Benjamin Hulett, Alexander Soddy

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, David Willison *

Colin Judson, Richard Black *

Jonathan King, Will Liverman

Benjamin Luxon, David Willison *

Christopher Maltman, Roger Vignoles

Francesco Meli, Iain Burnside

Anthony Michaels-Moore, Michael Pollock

Robbert Muuse, Micha van Weers

David John Pike, Isabelle Trüb

Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Sharolyn Kimmorley

James Rutherford, Eugene Asti (SACD)

Barry Ryan, Jeanell Carrigan *

John Shirley-Quirk, Viola Tunnard

Robert Tear, Philip Ledger

Bryn Terfel, Malcolm Martineau

Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside

Roderick Williams, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates (SACD)

Stanley Wilson, Malcolm Halliday *

Roland Wood, Iain Burnside

Roland Wood, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Daniel


* = download only
Orchestral versions (arr. Composer and Roy Douglas) in bold

[gradus]

Many good versions but I'm fondest of Bryn Terfel and Malcolm Martineau, so many felicities in their performance.

[Goon525]

Just point out that Mark Lowther (who I’ve met a couple of times) is a ‘he’ not a ‘she’. In fact, if I remember correctly, he’s a Rev.

[BBMmk2]

I have Anthony Rolfe Johnson/David Wilson and Roderick Williams/Iain Burnside. I very much like them both. So I hope they do well.

[cloughie]

John Shirley-Quirk my favourite for many years and he sticks to the markings but Bryn Terfel tells the stories of the songs! For the higher voice version I like the James Gilchrist. The other question is whether to opt for piano or orchestral accompaniment - I am not impressed by Neal Davies voice in the most recent Halle/Elder and maybe Thomas Allen/CBSO/Rattle scores.

[Pulcinella]

Many good versions but I'm fondest of Bryn Terfel and Malcolm Martineau, so many felicities in their performance.

Can there be any lover of English song without a copy of The Vagabond in their collection?
(Answer from existing posts: unfortunately, yes! BBM! )

Given that the songs are described as simply 'for voice', is there a reason why they seem not to have been adopted by female singers?

For collectors of BBC MM CDs, the orchestral version features on Volume 12, Number 7:
Christopher Maltman (baritone), BBCSO, Thierry Fischer

Another note for Alpie: the Halle version needs to be bold (orchestral) in the list.

[cloughie]

Can there be any lover of English song without a copy of The Vagabond in their collection?
(Answer from existing posts: unfortunately, yes! BBM! )

Given that the songs are described as simply 'for voice', is there a reason why they seem not to have been adopted by female singers?

For collectors of BBC MM CDs, the orchestral version features on Volume 12, Number 7:
Christopher Maltman (baritone), BBCSO, Thierry Fischer

Another note for Alpie: the Halle version needs to be bold (orchestral) in the list.

I agree with you there Pulc - too often gender gets in the way of a good song - a good mezzo would do a great job!

[verismissimo]

Such a great cycle. Not just VW, but the wonderful poems of RLS. 'Bright is the ring of words ….'

My first was Shirley-Quirk with Viola Tunnard, which I loved and love. Since that one: Rolfe Johnson/Willison, Luxon/Willison and Graham Trew/Vignoles (nla?).

Time for something on CD!

[Pulcinella]

I agree with you there Pulc - too often gender gets in the way of a good song - a good mezzo would do a great job!

I suppose gender does have a role to play though:

There's the life for a man like me
(The Vagabond, verse 1)

[cloughie]

I suppose gender does have a role to play though:

There's the life for a man like me
(The Vagabond, verse 1)

Would changing a few words kill the song?

[verismissimo]

Would changing a few words kill the song?

Quite difficult to adapt the aforementioned 'Bright is the ring of words …'.

[cloughie]

Quite difficult to adapt the aforementioned 'Bright is the ring of words …'.

I think just about get away with that one, but ‘The Roadside Fire’ is probably the more difficult one.

[Mario]

Curses! I don’t have this included in the RLPO/Handley set.

Mario

[Roslynmuse]

Janet Baker and Martin Isepp recorded a couple of the set IIRC.

[Pulcinella]

Janet Baker and Martin Isepp recorded a couple of the set IIRC.

Certainly Youth and Love, but the other RVW song in the English anthology is The Call, from the Five Mystical Songs:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8063536--the-voice-of-janet-baker

I have the two Saga releases that form part of this release, and wonder if these Heritage versions have been remastered.