大象传媒

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain鈥檚 most loved composers, and best-known symphonists, writing nine symphonies that span almost 50 years of his career. These works evoke a wide range of moods, each creating its own unique world, from his first stormy choral symphony, through the aggressive and the tranquil, to his final enigmatic, haunting Ninth. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Vaughan Williams - a man who helped forge a new identity for English music in the 20th century - paying special attention to the symphonies. Vaughan Williams鈥檚 father was a vicar, but Ralph himself was an avowed atheist. In the final programme of the week, Donald explores how Vaughan Williams鈥檚 own ideas about faith changed during his life and how this shaped his life and music. We鈥檒l be hearing from two Vaughan Williams symphonies 鈥� his Seventh, 鈥淪infonia Antartica鈥�, and his final statement in the form, the Ninth.

Come down O Love Divine (Down Ampney)
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Richard Marlow (chorus master)
Christopher Allsop (organ)

Sinfonia Antartica - Intermezzo (with introductory lines)
Timothy West (narrator)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze (conductor)

Hodie (This Day) - No Sad Thought His Soul Affright
Guildford Choral Society
St Catherine鈥檚 School Choir
Hilary Davan Wetton (conductor)

Songs of Travel - 1. The Vagabond, 6. The Infinite Shining Heavens, 9. I have trod the upwards and the downwards
Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone)
Malcolm Martineau (piano)

Symphony No 9 - IV. Andante tranquillo
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Adrian Boult (conductor)

Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips