I was lucky enough to be at the Royal College of Music in London in 1999 when this piece was 'reheard' for the first time in many years. I was stunned at the time. A Brahmsian Romantic sound world looms large. This is the early Vaughan Williams before he became totally immersed in English folk song. He takes Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet instrumentation for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano rather than the more common two violins, viola, cello and piano formula and creates an early masterpiece.
VW's melodies are always so beautiful regardless of the overall mood, while maintaining a Romantic-esque, nearly impressionist soundscape. The moments of calm, like islands amidst the shimmering, shining sea of sound offer respite until the irresistible melodies take over again.
From first impressions, this seems like a really heavy style of Impressionism This is beautiful, what the heck??? How have I never heard of this piece until now
Waouuuu ! Quelle splendeur ! Une musique riche et généreuse. La richesse du contrepoint et des harmonies contrastent avec ces moments dépouillés si poignants... Une œuvre qui mériterait sa place au répertoire prestigieux des grands quintettes !
1:04 Bb minor -> Db major -> D major. Similar harmonic vibe to Sea Symphony, the modulations towards the lines "Sea the steamers coming and going, steaming in or out of port" C major -> C# major -> Bb major -> Ab major.
Really, really interesting ! Is it published? Could anyone, please, provide a reference about the editor ( I do not see any "watermark" at the bottom of the score). Thank You very much :-)
Why are all three opening tempos (half note = 80, 88, & 100) all played at the same speed!? I don’t like it. Add to that, the advertisement for poop medication in the middle of the first movement, and I’m pretty much done. What a world we live in.
The main interest in this early opus by RVW is the final set of variations; otherwise, it's not very original or interesting. I would have guessed it to be by a French composer, and not one of his best works either.
Not very interesting? Perhaps you should stay in more... 😄 I think the way he solves the usual 1st mvt sonata form issues extremely skilful and inspiring, as a composer struggling with a quintet at the moment. French? Yes, there's Fauré there for sure, but just as much Brahms, Parry, Stanford (and all their influencers) and Bruch too, as has been pointed out above. But a real spark of originality too, especially of the England-rooted modality to come.
@@noiselesspatient I can agree with all you say here; what I guess I was doing was comparing this early work to the Symphonies, the ballet "Job", and his chamber-music masterpiece, the Violin Sonata, and I admit that such comparisons are ultimately unfair.
