The echo and reverberation effect is what makes this performance unique above all others! Call it Valhalla, or Xanadu, or Heaven, this is how it was meant to be heard... Ask your heart!
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his music with his very soul, that is why is so rich in making as feel, as we listen to it the true nature of eternity, God is in it; the notes of this piece makes me feel important, valued, purposeful; life has got meaning, it elevates me; we should never behave or become like the brute, like the base man; we are transcendent creatures; this music gives me hope.
This was the most profound and intelligently beautiful comment I have ever come across Angel Herrero, thank you for writing this and I too adore this piece by Ralph Vaughn Williams, this one and the five variants of Dives and Lazarus. Merry Christmas to you and God Bless!
Again and again, I come back to this piece of music. I remember hearing peoplr talk of the colour of music, but only after hearing this piece, some years ago, did I understand. If this is the last sound I hear in this vale of tears, I shall go to meet my maker a very happy man.
One of the most profound and stirring melodies ever composed, echoing the destiny motive of Beethovens 5th, but with a far more tragic and therefore also more epic, accent . Its restrainment is also its strength. The title is an enormous understatement, which also supports this restrainment, at the same time revealing a mirror into the English soul.
This piece and especially this performance gives me goose bumps and I cry each time I hear it. There is a totally sublime quality to it. As others have said this was the location of the very first performance so complaining of the echo/reverberation is rather irrelevant - just sit back and enjoy it and feel the passion and emotion in the piece and the performance. It works in any concert hall but this is just magical - and as authentic as you can get.
This piece in the hands of Sir Andrew Davis is so beautiful that it provokes weeping in the best possible way. You only have to see him visibly moved to lovely emotion during a Delius documentary to see that he is wonderfully tuned to emotional feelings. Love in all its manifestations is thus expressed.
"And then there are especially memorable events such as the centenary performance of the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams recorded in a dark and empty Gloucester Cathedral in 2010..." Unfortunately this isn't true. The recording was made in 1999. If you search for "BBC Masterworks Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis at Gloucester Cathedral" this is a documentary about this recording. The final credits show the date in Latin numerals: MCMXCIX. That's 1999.
Is there a recording of this to buy? The setting with the cathedral acoustics is sublime. I wonder if it will be performed again there... before the 200th or 150th anniversary?!
Yes, I saw a performance of this In Gloucester Cathedral last Autumn. It wasn't staged as this recording - being in front of an audience, but it was a memorable evening.
@@johnhancock2741 Oh really! With the secondary orchestra in place? Which orchestra performed it? I need to 'subscribe' somehow to Gloucester Cathedral in case it happens again.
No. It was a concert performance with a single Orchestra. The performance here has no place for am audience, so I don't know what happened at the first performance. You could keep an eye on the Gloucester Cathedral website as they give notice of all forthcoming performances. Cheers.@@johnsayer116
Why? He/she is entitled to dislike it. Disliking something is an expression of personal preference, not a criticism of the quality or art. On the other hand, wishing to identify the disliker is sinister - threatening. What you gonna do? Go round his house and "teach him a thing or two about music" by means of assault?
@@daviddavies5662 I'm not sure, but there are hints in James's vernacular that he may be American. It is as well to make allowances for Americans. Just smile nicely when they come out with this sort of thing. James is mild in comparison to attempts to seize Congress or American police officers murdering people in the back of police vehicles ..... and a few other people along the way to whom they take a dislike.
‘Gloucester Cathedral is a wonderful place for the performance of any kind of music.’ Really? If you like huge amounts of uncontrollable echo I guess you’d agree but most music would be swamped by such reverberation and would be awful to listen to. Even this piece is out of control at times. I do admit that hearing any music via a system of engineered microphones is not the same as ‘being there’ but even so just having huge decay times does not automatically make a place ‘good’ for most types of music.
You remind me of that line by Flanders and Swann "Still I never did care for music much - it's the hi fidelity". This performance is exactly as the composer envisaged it.
RVW, a native of Gloucestershire, composed this piece with Gloucester Cathedral as the venue for its premier. This rendition is therefore, precisely as he intended. Sir Andrew Davies wouldn't have permitted anything less.
If this doesn't make you cry then nothing will.
Rest in eternal peace Sir Davis, for you had given so much to the world.
RIP Andrew Davis
Was für eine grandiose Schönheit, sehr sehr bewegend 🙏
The echo and reverberation effect is what makes this performance unique above all others! Call it Valhalla, or Xanadu, or Heaven, this is how it was meant to be heard... Ask your heart!
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his music with his very soul, that is why is so rich in making as feel, as we listen to it the true nature of eternity, God is in it; the notes of this piece makes me feel important, valued, purposeful; life has got meaning, it elevates me; we should never behave or become like the brute, like the base man; we are transcendent creatures; this music gives me hope.
This was the most profound and intelligently beautiful comment I have ever come across Angel Herrero, thank you for writing this and I too adore this piece by Ralph Vaughn Williams, this one and the five variants of Dives and Lazarus. Merry Christmas to you and God Bless!
This incredibly wonderful work reminds me a work by brother Samuel Barber....you know the one I mean....yeah, that one
I keep on playing this - it's about the best version I've ever heard, including the Sargent recording.
Again and again, I come back to this piece of music. I remember hearing peoplr talk of the colour of music, but only after hearing this piece, some years ago, did I understand. If this is the last sound I hear in this vale of tears, I shall go to meet my maker a very happy man.
I was thinking the same thing as I listened. I want to hear this as I leave the planet forever. Let heaven and nature sing.
I have never found a "deeper meaning" in this composition, and haven't felt poorer for it. This is just pure atmosphere.
One of the most profound and stirring melodies ever composed, echoing the destiny motive of Beethovens 5th, but with a far more tragic and therefore also more epic, accent . Its restrainment is also its strength.
The title is an enormous understatement, which also supports this restrainment, at the same time revealing a mirror into the English soul.
what a fabulous description, couldnt agree more !
This piece and especially this performance gives me goose bumps and I cry each time I hear it. There is a totally sublime quality to it. As others have said this was the location of the very first performance so complaining of the echo/reverberation is rather irrelevant - just sit back and enjoy it and feel the passion and emotion in the piece and the performance. It works in any concert hall but this is just magical - and as authentic as you can get.
I agree...transcendent.
I remember watching this one bbc2 when it was first broadcast, and the story around it... so beautiful
This piece in the hands of Sir Andrew Davis is so beautiful that it provokes weeping in the best possible way. You only have to see him visibly moved to lovely emotion during a Delius documentary to see that he is wonderfully tuned to emotional feelings. Love in all its manifestations is thus expressed.
Stunning.
Beautiful music, performance, location
Awesome interpretation...sitting arrangement of the orchestra is perfect....t y...
"And then there are especially memorable events such as the centenary performance of the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams recorded in a dark and empty Gloucester Cathedral in 2010..."
Unfortunately this isn't true. The recording was made in 1999.
If you search for "BBC Masterworks Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis at Gloucester Cathedral" this is a documentary about this recording. The final credits show the date in Latin numerals: MCMXCIX. That's 1999.
Sublime listening!
Beautifully said, W.
Beautifully filmed......sublime performance, I think in the venue where first premiered? Ambiance to die for!
pattomuso yes, it's Gloucester Cathedral
:)
Bellísima fantasía..
I think I just forgot to breathe 😲
remarkabL, thanx
从绿袖子认识了沃恩 威廉姆斯，带着忧伤旋律的英国古典，宏伟华丽令人难忘
Please watch the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performance of this on RUclips - it is also fantastic!!
Glad you found that recording...I agree...its a most remarkable performance
Красиво, что уж сказать.
Is there a recording of this to buy? The setting with the cathedral acoustics is sublime. I wonder if it will be performed again there... before the 200th or 150th anniversary?!
Yes, I saw a performance of this In Gloucester Cathedral last Autumn. It wasn't staged as this recording - being in front of an audience, but it was a memorable evening.
@@johnhancock2741 Oh really! With the secondary orchestra in place? Which orchestra performed it? I need to 'subscribe' somehow to Gloucester Cathedral in case it happens again.
No. It was a concert performance with a single Orchestra. The performance here has no place for am audience, so I don't know what happened at the first performance. You could keep an eye on the Gloucester Cathedral website as they give notice of all forthcoming performances. Cheers.@@johnsayer116
@@johnhancock2741 Thank you.. I'll visit the website.
@@johnhancock2741 so jealous :-)
Politics aside, the BBC can do some things at a very high level.
I wish I could meet the sweet people who commented here.
I would just like to know the name of the dolt who gave this master performance a 'dislike'.
Why?
He/she is entitled to dislike it.
Disliking something is an expression of personal preference, not a criticism of the quality or art.
On the other hand, wishing to identify the disliker is sinister - threatening. What you gonna do? Go round his house and "teach him a thing or two about music" by means of assault?
LOL.
@@daviddavies5662 I'm not sure, but there are hints in James's vernacular that he may be American. It is as well to make allowances for Americans. Just smile nicely when they come out with this sort of thing. James is mild in comparison to attempts to seize Congress or American police officers murdering people in the back of police vehicles ..... and a few other people along the way to whom they take a dislike.
Lord of the Rings was influenced by this?
Divne
WTF! An ad!? Ruined experience!
‘Gloucester Cathedral is a wonderful place for the performance of any kind of music.’ Really? If you like huge amounts of uncontrollable echo I guess you’d agree but most music would be swamped by such reverberation and would be awful to listen to. Even this piece is out of control at times. I do admit that hearing any music via a system of engineered microphones is not the same as ‘being there’ but even so just having huge decay times does not automatically make a place ‘good’ for most types of music.
You remind me of that line by Flanders and Swann "Still I never did care for music much - it's the hi fidelity". This performance is exactly as the composer envisaged it.
Sound is poorly mixed. The violin solos are almost lost - too much echo as well. Pity, because it's obviously a superb performance.
RVW, a native of Gloucestershire, composed this piece with Gloucester Cathedral as the venue for its premier. This rendition is therefore, precisely as he intended. Sir Andrew Davies wouldn't have permitted anything less.
I listen to an awful lot of music of all genres, and I find this version of the Tallis Fantasia to be *the* one. R.I.P. Andrew Davis.