Ralph Vaughan Williams is responsible for opening my ears to classical music. When I heard “The Lark Ascending”, it was the most beautiful piece of music I’d ever listened to. For me, he is the greatest composer that ever lived. His range of musical expression was stupendous, from the beauty of the “Lark” and Symphony No. 5 to the destructive desolation of Symphony No. 6, the other worldliness of the Tallis Fantasia to the absurd beauty of the Concerto for Bass Tuba. It is absolutely criminal the way that his music has been neglected by our performing orchestras over the past fifty years. However, according to an article in tonight’s Evening Standard by Norman Lebrecht, there is a revival of interest in the grand old man of English music. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to go to some of the concerts. If you’ve not heard RVW yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. RVW Society.
Posted in books & music
