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A Portrait of Vaughan Williams

Nimbus Records

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1. The Wasps, Aristophanic Suite, for orchestra from the incidental music: Overture
2. The Lark Ascending, romance for violin & orchestra
3. Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute & strings (arranged by R. Greaves; from the opera 'Sir John In Love')
4. Oboe Concerto in A minor: 1. Rondo pastorale (Allegro moderato)
5. Oboe Concerto in A minor: 2. Minuet and Musette (Allegro moderato)
6. Oboe Concerto in A minor: 3. Finale (Scherzo) (Presto - Lento - Presto)
7. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, for 2 string orchestras
8. Variants (5) of 'Dives and Lazarus' for string orchestra & harp (or harps)
9. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor
10. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor
11. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor
12. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor
13. Mass for soloists & chorus in G minor
14. Valiant for Truth, motet for chorus (with piano or organ ad lib)
15. The Blessed Son of God, for chorus (arranged from 'Hodie,' Christmas cantata)
16. Hodie (This Day), Christmas cantata for soprano, tenor, baritone, boys' chorus, chorus & orchestra
17. Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge, motet for soloists, semi-chorus & orchestra (or organ) (Psalm 90)
18. O Taste and See, motet for chorus & organ (Psalm 34)
19. Shakespeare Songs (3) for chorus: Full Fathom Five
20. Shakespeare Songs (3) for chorus: The Cloud-Capp'd Tower
21. Shakespeare Songs (3) for chorus: Over Hill, Over Dale
22. Phantasy Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello: Prelude: Lento ma non troppo
23. Phantasy Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello: Scherzo: Prestissimo
24. Phantasy Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello: Alla Sarabanda: Lento
25. Phantasy Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello: Burlesca: Allegro moderato
26. String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: I. Allegro moderato
27. String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: II. Minuet and Trio (Tempo di minuetto)
28. String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: III. Romance (Andante sostenuto)
29. String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: IV. Finale: Rondo capriccioso (Allegro molto - Pochettino più mosso)
30. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor ('For Jean on Her Birthday'): Prelude: Allegro appassionato
31. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor ('For Jean on Her Birthday'): Romance: Largo
32. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor ('For Jean on Her Birthday'): Scherzo: Allegro
33. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor ('For Jean on Her Birthday'): Epilogue: Andante sostenuto
34. An Oxford Elegy for narrator, small chorus & small orchestra
35. Flos Campi, suite for viola, small chorus & small orchestra
36. Te Deum for chorus & organ (or orchestra) in G
37. O Clap Your Hands, motet for chorus, brass & organ (Psalm 47)
38. The Old 100th Psalm ('All people that on earth do dwell'), for chorus, unison chorus, orchestra & organ

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An essential boxed set of RVWs work

Originally, I was confused when I encountered this set, as it incorporates four formerly individual Nimbus releases, now deleted from their catalogue. Be warned, then, if you have Nimbus releases of 'An Oxford Elegy' (and other choral music), or of RVWs Chamber Music (including the 'Phantasy Quintet' and the 'String Quartet') - these are the same recordings!

That being said, if you don't have these titles, or you have them in another release, and you enjoy RVWs music, then you simply must add this anthology to your collection. These discs include the first recording of 'An Oxford Elegy' that I ever encountered; it is such a marvellous piece that you'll be scrambling for poetry anthologies to find bits of Matthew Arnold's 'Thyrsis' and 'The Scholar Gypsy' just to read along. 'Flos Campi' is a marvellous, almost impressionistic piece, which always brings an image of Roman legions marching slowly through Surrey to mind. The 'Phantasy Quintet' is exception, as is the 'String Quartet'. However, it is the recording of the 'Lark Ascending' (now sadly thieved by some cursèd auto manufacturer to flog their worthless vehicles) that is the high point of this, as it is of most, collections. Of course, I could be considered biased, as it is my all-time favourite piece of music. The collection is rounded out by, among others, the essential 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis' and an interesting selection of the Sacred and Secular songs, as well as three of RVWs Shakespeare treatments.

Nimbus recordings are first class, and under the skilled hand of William Boughton the English String Orchestra is incomparable. Words cannot bring to these works to the life that they have on hearing, whether first or repeated. They are absolutely something that must be experienced for themselves.