7.30 pm The Lark Ascending

8 pm to 9.30 The Passion of Vaughan Williams

Anyone who missed the Passion program at 8 should surely watch it on iPlayer.
I enjoyed it just as much as the Elgar one a while back

Great story. Some of the music was skated over a bit superficially. I could have done with more on his symphonies, to justify the claim (with which I agree) that he was England's greatest symphonist. Elgar's symphonies are very good, but the Variations, the Introduction and Allegro and, especially, Falstaff (which he thought was his best work) are even better.

Was it a repeat of a VERY long (but interesting) profile of RVW that was on during the Christmas holiday a couple of years ago?
I remember watching it at then 9 a.m in my dressing gown on either Boxing day or NYD and being still thus attired when the programme finished about 3 hours later.

Agree with all of your comments but didn't watch the programme (can't stand lark ascending and was being a taxi in any case). Am not a big RVW fan in any case but do LOVE the 5th symphony. Not a huge Elgar fan but heard quite a bit of the 2nd (I think - eek can't even remember now) symphony and liked that. Falstaff, serenade for strings, gerontius, enigma for me, in that order.

And Lark Ascending is far too miserable for a skylark in any case!

Yes Im not too keen on the Lark either so didn't watch the first program

Probably - I've just watched it on i-Player and it was dated 2008. A very interesting programme, though only 90 minutes, not 3 hours!

I don't understand your comment about the Lark Ascending being miserable. I haven't yet watched that programme, but I love the piece!

There are repeats - In HD on Sat 21st and in the early hours this morning (missed that one) and Monday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019c9t9/broadcasts

you can always watch it on iplayer i did. it was very good

I'm a big RVW symphony fan - 5th is probably favourite. And my choir is doing the Sea Symphony this term

hmmm think Sea Symph could well be marmite... (which I don't eat)

Probably makes a difference that I'm a singer - sang it at the Proms in 2005 - that was fun!

Sang it in Harrogate in about 1973 with Shirley Quirk as soloist.
'Behoooooooooooold, the Seeeeeeeeeeeeea itself, and on its limitless heaving breast.....'

I had been married about 2 yrs when I sang it. The second movement particulalry brought back memories of our honeymoon, walking along a deserted Cornish beach with the moon reflecting on the sea.... (soppy aren't I)

8 is best. A genius at the height of his powers.

2 and 3 are fun as well.

I find 6 a bit hard going, tbh.

That's the Tony Palmer film, O Thou Transcendent




Dulcet - you like neither Marmite nor RVW?

Tenor Viol - I was at the 2005 Prom performance I am jealous of you singing it this term, although I've done it a couple of times in the past. I'm not ashamed to admit to having shed a tear during the last couple of pages when we sang it last summer.


Even the really dirty saxophone solo?

6 is my favourite, closely followed by 5, 2, 7 and 1.

Yes I like the violence of 6 also

I was singing first bass in front row of the choir, immediately behind the trumpets....

He's singing on Beeb4 now if you're quick!

(presumably a historic recording)