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| | Lark Ascending - The Soft Sounds of Vaughan Williams (London) | | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Decca | | Release Date : | | 1997-04-15 | | Store Price : | | $16.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $16.98 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. The Lark Ascending, romance for violin & orchestra
2. Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute & strings (arranged by R. Greaves; from the opera 'Sir John In Love')
3. Oboe Concerto in A minor: I: Rondo pastorale
4. Oboe Concerto in A minor: II: Minuet and Musette
5. Symphony No. 2 in G major ('A London Symphony'): Lento
6. Concerto grosso for strings in 3 groups: Sarabande
7. English Folk Song Suite, for orchestra (orchestrated by G. Jacob)
8. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, for 2 string orchestras
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 One of those Collection CDs that Merits Adding to the Library!
Submitted on: 2006-09-23 |
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Often pasted together excerpts on the basis of a theme or a specific artist can be annoyingly disjointed. This is an exception to that rule. While many people appreciate the majestic symphonies by Ralph Vaughn Williams, there is a larger audience waiting to be introduced to one f the masters of British melody. Here is a selection of some of the more moody but eloquent works by a great composer too often dismissed.
The CD collection of 'Soft Sounds' is divided among several groups. Works on the collection include performances from the New Queen's Hall Orchestra (Barry Wordsworth, conductor), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Sir Neville Marriner, conductor), and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Sir Adrian Boult, conducing). These fine orchestras survey 'The Lark Ascending, romance for violin & orchestra' with a sensitive Hagai Shaham as soloist, 'Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute & strings', the Oboe Concerto in A minor' with Celia Nicklin soloist, the 'Lento' from 'The London Symphony', the 'Concerto grosso for strings' (Sarabande), 'English Folk Song Suite', and the much loved 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, for 2 string orchestras'.
There are no attempts to connect these works except through the concept of 'soft music' and there are individually finer performances of some on other recordings. But for a soothing, tranquil hour of gorgeous music to tame the savage world, this is one of those CDs that will serve the listener well - and hopefully increase Vaughn Williams' audience! Grady Harp, September 06
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Beautiful!
Submitted on: 2004-02-19 |
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| "The Lark Ascending" is one of my all-time favorite pieces, and I must say that Ralph Vaughan Williams is amazing after listening to this CD. "Fantasia on Greensleeves" blew me away. Wonderful music. Elizabeth |
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Beautiful Selections
Submitted on: 2002-03-22 |
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| I'm a Vaughan Williams enthusist and I find that this CD has many (not all, of course) of the soft and beautiful orchestral works of Mr. Williams. The quality is excellent. "Fant on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" is one of my favorite pieces of work by Williams, however, I didn't like Mr. Wordsworth's interpretation of this piece (in my opinion, the best interpretation is by Leonard Slatkin, which I suggest you buy). All in all, this is a very good CD and I highly recommand it. |
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 Good if not for the oboe...
Submitted on: 2001-03-19 |
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| This recording features wonderful renditions of many of Vaughan Williams' most heralded compositions. The Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is one of the best I've heard, as are most of the other pieces on this CD. However, the (incomplete) Oboe Concerto is of mediocre quality. Being an oboist, I am naturally critical of oboe playing, but I must say that at times even an untrained ear can discern the utter lack of taste that went in to playing the wonderful concerto, which I much enjoy playing myself. A good CD to help people come to love Vaughan Williams, but don't buy it for the Oboe Concerto - you'll be wasting your money. |
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I am so glad I bought this album!
Submitted on: 2000-11-03 |
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| I bought this album because it had two pieces I acutally knew the names of (Lark Ascending & Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis) and adored, never thinking I would also come to love the other pieces. Well I did and now am on a search to find more good works by Vaughan Williams! This is one of my most played cds and still gives me shivers with each listen :-) |
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