Maurice Ravel's motto, 'complex but not complicated,' influenced Vaughan Williams and helped him gain confidence in his own musical ideas.
Composition History
Vaughan Williams studied with Maurice Ravel, a French composer three years his junior, for three months in Paris in 1907-1908 to learn about clarity, colour, and texture in orchestration.
Performer Biography
William Steinberg, the conductor for 'Five Tudor Portraits,' was a German-born American who assisted Toscanini and had an affinity for English music, including Vaughan Williams.
Historical Context
The Salvation Army Band, featured on 'Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes,' was formed at the direct request of its founder, William Booth, who saw music as a way to communicate with people.
Composer Biography
Ralph Vaughan Williams, the composer, felt his musical style was too 'Teutonic' and not 'English' enough by late 1907, leading him to seek advice from French composers.
Recording & Production
This album features archive recordings, including 'On Wenlock Edge' from Argo RG 20 and 'Five Tudor Portraits' recorded live at the First Pittsburgh International Music Festival in 1952.
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