Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet, The Lark Ascending, Romance, Fantasia on the 'Old 104th' Psalm Tune
12/2/2022, 6 Tracks, 1:04:55
Featuring
Duncan Riddell
Abigail Fenna
Richard Harwood
Benjamin Cunningham
Mark Bebbington
Hilary Davan Wetton
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
City of London Choir
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Did you know?
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Performer Biography
Mark Bebbington, the pianist on this album, is internationally recognized as a champion of British music, having given premiere performances and recordings of works by Vaughan Williams, John Ireland, and others.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Fantasia on the 'Old 104th' Psalm Tune reflects Vaughan Williams's innovative approach in his later life, combining a sacred melody with moments of unease and affirmation.
Composer Biography
Ralph Vaughan Williams was the musical editor for the English Hymnal, first published in 1906, and included several tunes that inspired his own works.
Recording & Production
This recording was generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust, an organization dedicated to the composer's legacy.
Composition History
Vaughan Williams's Piano Quintet in C minor, completed in 1903, was withdrawn by the composer in 1918, but its theme reappeared in his late Violin Sonata (1954).
Compositional Technique
The Fantasia on the 'Old 104th' Psalm Tune is unusual for its combination of piano, chorus, and orchestra, a scoring that led to comparisons with Beethoven's Choral Fantasia.
