I was born in Gloucester. My mother helped build hurricane fighters there during the war, and saw friends bombed and died in the factory. My father was a fire watcher at the cathedral and helped protect the cathedral and St. Edward's chair. The music, the setting, the memories are part of me.
I was saddened to learn of Andrew Davis’s passing in April 2024. An extraordinary career and legacy. This remains one of the finest performances of any piece of classical music.
One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written!! I can be worn out from work or stressed and I put this on and everything seems to vanish and I dream about another place and another time!!!
This performance is all the more precious as it can never be replicated. That wonderful interpreter of William’s consummate piece, the conductor, Andrew Davis, died in April 2024.
All versions of this sound pedestrian compared to the version on GREEN. Steve always sounds good but his drum and bass players are too stiff. Also most versions I've heard are too damn fast.. They are rushing through it. The GREEN version is the one...for ME.
I was fortunate enough to meet John Cunningham many years ago, he lived nearby and his navigator, Jimmy Rawnsley was my fils best man. I clearly remember him saying it was a beautiful plane to fly.... fast, but a sod if you stalled!
RIP Albert and Molly Bowers. I first heard this wonderful piece in their house in Longford Ireland. I miss those days, but long to sit beside you in heaven sipping Earl Grey tea and listening to Albert’s classical record collection. Along with my parents I miss you all so much.
Why this music reminds me of beatification, of Jesus, of Buddha, of Mohammed, Moses... Take your pick, walking with a kindly smile through the Earth, i do not know. Vaughan Williams gift was to shine a light on the spark of God that is in everything. How he did that i do not know. I sound terribly religious, but I'm really not at all. It's this music that causes these feelings.
Anyone know if the strings were grouped in a similar way in the 1910 performance? It’s quite an unusual grouping although I’m assuming it allows for better sound projection
Absolutely without peer. R.V. Williams' blood runs with England. And such a great setting for one of the pre-eminent pieces in the English canon. Speechless...
This is what every person who carries .45 ACP thinks it does to their targets. And they train so little, they believe their magazines carry that many rounds! 😂
