Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress

Featuring

Aidan Oliver
Sir John Gielgud
Ursula Howells
Richard Pasco
Matthew Best
Corydon Singers

City of London Sinfonia
Ralph Vaughan Williams

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Composition History

This album features a 1942 radio adaptation of The Pilgrim's Progress, which was incidental music for a BBC production by Edward Sackville-West.

Performer Biography

Sir John Gielgud, who performs as Christian and Faithful on this recording, admitted that he strongly identifies with the role of Christian.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Ralph Vaughan Williams, the composer, knew and loved John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress throughout his life, and setting it to music occupied him for over forty years.

Recording & Production

The text for this album's recording was adapted by Christopher Palmer, who significantly shortened John Bunyan's original to create a primarily musical entity.

Composition History

The 1942 radio version of The Pilgrim's Progress, featured on this album, contains music not included in Vaughan Williams's later opera of the same name.

Compositional Technique

Vaughan Williams associated the 'Tallis' tune ('Third Mode Melody') with The Pilgrim's Progress, using it in various adaptations, including the 1906 incidental music and The English Hymnal.