Vaughan Williams: 4-8.4.16, 8-12.2.21 & 2-27.5.22

[Nick Armstrong]

Today’s (Wednesday’s) edition was a nigh-on perfect hour of broadcasting, for my money. Some background I didn’t know (not least anecdotal detail about the Ravel connection)... and a wonderful selection of musical illustrations:



Right up my street

[BBMmk2]

Nick Armstrong
I was at the Prom performance of Davis conducting Job! Wonderful!
Not my favourite recording of DNP, there. Mine is David Hill’s and Bryden Thomson’s.

[Serial_Apologist]

I didn't understand the logic of playing "Towards the Unknown Region" right at the end of an episode dealing with the effect of Adeline's declining health on VW's music, other than banal observation that no one can predict the future. In becoming increasingly anecdotal, COTW is coming more and more to resemble Doctor Who.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I didn't understand the logic of playing "Towards the Unknown Region" right at the end of an episode dealing with the effect of Adeline's declining health on VW's music, other than banal observation that no one can predict the future. In becoming increasingly anecdotal, COTW is coming more and more to resemble Doctor Who.

Am I alone in not giving a monkey’s about R V-W’s love life ?

[edashtav]

Am I alone in not giving a monkey’s about R V-W’s love life ?

Quite possibly, you are right. However, in the week when John Bridcut’s RVW film appears on BBC Channel 4, these words from its writer cannot but fail to titillate:
“ In reality, it was an unusual but mutually agreeable menage à trois, whose intimacy is reflected in that extraordinary scene of the three of them, side by side in bed, sheltering from Hitler's aerial bombardment.”

And the threesome was Ralph, Ursula and Adeline with RVW in the middle holding and giving support to both his assistant and his arthritic wife.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Quite possibly, you are right. However, in the week when John Bridcut’s RVW film appears on BBC Channel 4, these words from its writer cannot but fail to titillate:
“ In reality, it was an unusual but mutually agreeable menage à trois, whose intimacy is reflected in that extraordinary scene of the three of them, side by side in bed, sheltering from Hitler's aerial bombardment.”

And the threesome was Ralph, Ursula and Adeline with RVW in the middle holding and giving support to both his assistant and his arthritic wife.

The problem I have with the whole 'Loves of RVW thesis' is that it doesn't reveal all that much about the music : unlike Tony Palmer's wonderful O Thou Transcedent documentary. It ignores RVW's massive contribution English Hymns (even though he was an agnostic) , Folk music , the English Symphonic tradition , his war record and service and how that affected him , his contribution to amateur music and choral singing. Oh yes and music teaching - enough for half a dozen lifetimes . It trivialises one of the great Englishmen...

[edashtav]

The problem I have with the whole 'Loves of RVW thesis' is that it doesn't reveal all that much about the music : unlike Tony Palmer's wonderful O Thou Transcedent documentary. It ignores RVW's massive contribution English Hymns (even though he was an agnostic) , Folk music , the English Symphonic tradition , his war record and service and how that affected him , his contribution to amateur music and choral singing. Oh yes and music teaching - enough for half a dozen lifetimes . It trivialises one of the great Englishmen...

The alternative view suggests that more recent research has ‘fleshed out” our notion of what mattered to RVW and that wider view may colour how we interpret and listen to his scores. History may or may not conclude that these extra facets are trivial. Similar trends are occurring in our knowledge of Britten and Elgar, have happened to Arnold Bax scholarship, and may be necessary to complete our picture of John Ireland.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The alternative view suggests that more recent research has ‘fleshed out” our notion of what mattered to RVW and that wider view may colour how we interpret and listen to his scores. History may or may not conclude that these extra facets are trivial. Similar trends are occurring in our knowledge of Britten and Elgar, have happened to Arnold Bax scholarship, and may be necessary to complete our picture of John Ireland.

I honestly don’t think it makes much difference what we know about any of those composers’ lives in terms of performing their scores. It might “colour “ our listening but only if we allow it to . The endless speculation about Britten doesn’t affect my listening and response to Peter Grimes or Billy Budd, One of the things I love about Shakespeare is we know so little about his life we don’t have to put up with amateur psychological analysis by critics and performers . I am not saying it’s not interesting or not worthy of study I just don’t think it’s that important in terms of the music , It matters to journalists and filmmakers because sadly it’s much more of a marketable proposition than the music ....

[Serial_Apologist]

I honestly don’t think it makes much difference what we know about any of those composers’ lives in terms of performing their scores. It might “colour “ our listening but only if we allow it to . The endless speculation about Britten doesn’t affect my listening and response to Peter Grimes or Billy Budd, One of the things I love about Shakespeare is we know so little about his life we don’t have to put up with amateur psychological analysis by critics and performers . I am not saying it’s not interesting or not worthy of study I just don’t think it’s that important in terms of the music , It matters to journalists and filmmakers because sadly it’s much more of a marketable proposition than the music ....

It comes over that way because of the mass media's love of sensationalism and scandal - but the biographical nevertheless does have a lot to say about the art or music, because one cannot isolate personality from its expression, nor expression from experience. For me that is enriching of his or her picture.

[Nick Armstrong]

Am I alone in not giving a monkey’s about R V-W’s love life ?

I confess to a slight tangential interest having once chatted with Ursula V-W as she puffed on her black cheroot after she had attended a performance of Serenade to Music (including yours truly on trombone )

[Edgy 2]

Am I alone in not giving a monkey’s about R V-W’s love life ?

It's interesting in as much as it's part of any life story

Quite possibly, you are right. However, in the week when John Bridcut’s RVW film appears on BBC Channel 4, these words from its writer cannot but fail to titillate:
“ In reality, it was an unusual but mutually agreeable menage à trois, whose intimacy is reflected in that extraordinary scene of the three of them, side by side in bed, sheltering from Hitler's aerial bombardment.”

And the threesome was Ralph, Ursula and Adeline with RVW in the middle holding and giving support to both his assistant and his arthritic wife.

Maybe not in the same bed
Ursula on a mattress placed on the floor between the 2 single beds of Ralph and Adeline giving the support is another version of the sleeping arrangements

[cloughie]

It's interesting in as much as it's part of any life story



Maybe not in the same bed
Ursula on a mattress placed on the floor between the 2 single beds of Ralph and Adeline giving the support is another version of the sleeping arrangements

But then why let the truth get in the way of a story?

[Edgy 2]

[edashtav]

It's interesting in as much as it's part of any life story



Maybe not in the same bed
Ursula on a mattress placed on the floor between the 2 single beds of Ralph and Adeline giving the support is another version of the sleeping arrangements

[Cockney Sparrow]

Quite possibly, you are right. However, in the week when John Bridcut’s RVW film appears on BBC Channel 4, these words from its writer.....

I can't locate a broadcast of the film. What (....when...) have I missed?