BaL 23.01.21 - Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel

[Serial_Apologist]

There was a time, back in the 1950s/60s, when this group of songs was viewed as stylistically retrograde, before RVW had found his voice, and too much in hock to the Victorian parlour song tradition, so it is good to see so much choice now available.

VW did not compose many song cycles, just a handful of individual songs with piano accompanment in later life: this imv is among his finest works, so full of profound wisdom and insight in the words and settings. Maybe ***someone*** should have a go at orchestrating them, injecting some of that Ravel colour the composer espoused in later revisions? Can't think who....

[Roslynmuse]

The problem with RVW's piano writing is that it is not very grateful to play. He didn't really exploit the resonant qualities of the instrument so his chordal writing is difficult to voice even if the notes themselves aren't hard. (The Vagabond and Bright is the Ring of Words are good examples.) Ireland's piano writing (to take a random example) is more 'difficult' in some ways but lies better under the fingers and seems written for the piano rather than reduced for it, if that makes sense.

[Edgy 2]

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

Me too although Benjamin Luxon has also been a long treasured recording here.
I have many of those listed
I'm not that keen on the orchestral version, not sure why but I do have them all

[cloughie]

Me too although Benjamin Luxon has also been a long treasured recording here.
I have many of those listed
I'm not that keen on the orchestral version, not sure why but I do have them all

The orchestrations of some the songs are not RVW’s and some are not as good as others.

[Edgy 2]

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!

Wallis Giunta

A song is a song, and if the singer can tell the story, that's all that matters ;)

[Edgy 2]

The orchestrations of some the songs are not RVW’s and some are not as good as others.

[Serial_Apologist]

My apologies - should have known there to be orchestrated versions.

[Edgy 2]

Wallis Giunta

Let Beauty Awake and The Roadside Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czHA0JMaoZg

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

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suppose gender does have a role to play though:

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

True, but Schubert’s Erlking is often sung by a woman, even though it has an all-male cast.

[gurnemanz]

Wallis Giunta

Thanks very much for the Wallis Giunta link. Beautifully sung and communicated. I didn't know her and looked further. There's a Richard Strauss album which I listened to on Spotify with great pleasure.

Also A Case of You by fellow Canadian, Joni Mitchell. A favourite song, very compellingly put across.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkN55oyPuxo

[cloughie]

Thanks very much for the Wallis Giunta link. Beautifully sung and communicated. I didn't know her and looked further. There's a Richard Strauss album which I listened to on Spotify with great pleasure.

Also A Case of You by fellow Canadian, Joni Mitchell. A favourite song, very compellingly put across.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkN55oyPuxo

Beautiful voice - why have we not heard more of her?

https://youtu.be/BgDA_B60mUU

[Darloboy]

As far as I can tell from Genome, this is the first time this work has ever been covered by BaL.

[ardcarp]

too often gender gets in the way of a good song - a good mezzo would do a great job

Indeed 'lieder' in its widest sense can exist at all pitches and for all voice-types. Agreed Wallis Giunta sounds wonderful. But I hope it is not sexist to say that in VW's Songs of Travel, the baritone voice seems to encapsulate the 'world weariness' of some of the songs. Can I place a bet on Roddy Williams tomorrow?

[verismissimo]

… Can I place a bet on Roddy Williams tomorrow?

I've been listening to R Williams with I Burnside this week. Really excellent … but still my money is on Shirley-Quirk with Tunnard.