The Captain's Apprentice

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • ardcarp
    Late member
    • Nov 2010
    • 11102

    The Captain's Apprentice

    Radio 4 has a 15 minute slot each morning this week at 0945 about RVW. The series is based on a book called
    The Captain's Apprentice: Ralph Vaughan Williams and the Story of a Folk Song by Caroline Davison.

    Monday
    Norfolk Rhapsody

    Tuesday
    Folk Song and Composition

    Wednesday
    Fen Country

    Thursday
    VW has an Epiphany

    Friday
    The Captain's Apprentice Revisited

    I wished this had been bigged up a bit more. I only stumbled on it by accident, and I thoroughly recommend it.

    Edwardian folk song, the Fens and the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Poppy Miller reads.
  • Serial_Apologist
    Full Member
    • Dec 2010
    • 37595

    #2
    Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
    Radio 4 has a 15 minute slot each morning this week at 0945 about RVW. The series is based on a book called
    The Captain's Apprentice: Ralph Vaughan Williams and the Story of a Folk Song by Caroline Davison.

    Monday
    Norfolk Rhapsody

    Tuesday
    Folk Song and Composition

    Wednesday
    Fen Country

    Thursday
    VW has an Epiphany

    Friday
    The Captain's Apprentice Revisited

    I wished this had been bigged up a bit more. I only stumbled on it by accident, and I thoroughly recommend it.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bksj
    I have mentioned this elsewhere, but yes, you could well be right.

    Comment

    • ardcarp
      Late member
      • Nov 2010
      • 11102

      #3
      Last episode particularly interesting (a) with regard to RVW's personal life and (b) telling about his friendship in old age with Patrick Hadley. The two apparently were visiting a Norfolk village which shortly afterwards was devastated by the violent storm of 1953. Hadley wrote a cantata Fen and Flood for the male voices of Gonville and Caius* and two pianos. RVW re-jigged it for mixed voices and orchestra. I don't know this work, so must find it and have a listen.

      * G&C choir in those days had no trebles, and female choral scholars hadn't yet arrived in college choirs. I understand that Patrick Hadley didn't have much time for female singers anyway. He had a wooden leg (a war injury) and I heard it said (maybe a myth) that he used to stab his prosthesis with a knife to alarm passing female students in the street.

      Comment

      • makropulos
        Full Member
        • Nov 2010
        • 1669

        #4
        I've been reading the book rather than listening to the radio programme, but will certainly catch up on Sounds. It's a very interesting read (and an enjoyable one) which I recommend wholeheartedly. As ardcarp says, the late material is particularly touching. But there are all sorts of engrossing details (many of them new to me) throughout the book. Definitely one to have on the shelves.

        Comment

        • smittims
          Full Member
          • Aug 2022
          • 4081

          #5
          Albion Records do a splendid CD of VW's arrangement of 'Fen and Flood' conducted by Paul Daniel. Also on the disc is VW's 'The Garden of Proserpine ' one of a number of works from his early maturity whch have been revived. I found it profoundly moving; genuine VW.

          Comment

          • ardcarp
            Late member
            • Nov 2010
            • 11102

            #6
            Thanks for that Smittims. I’ll get that. Incidentally I ordered the book from Worley on Thursday and it arrived on Friday (yesterday). That’s service.

            Comment

            Working...
            X