Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus (Vaughan Williams) - Behind the Score (Episode 31)
Added 2022-11-13 01:23:49 +0000 UTCOn this edition of Behind the Score, we're returning to the classical realm with the Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This is a beautiful set of variations to an English folk hymn, composed for string orchestra and harp in 1939 for the World's Fair in NYC. It's a masterclass in refined composing/arranging, as well as in pacing and use of modality. I hope you enjoy!
Comments
I always loved the Gryphon version of the tune too. Small correction - it's on the first Gryphon album rather than the third album, and is called "the Unquiet Grave"
Adie
2024-01-21 16:58:12 +0000 UTCYesterday was the anniversary of Moby Dick, which I happened to read 4 chapters from yesterday morning. I learned of the anniversary later that day. In his novel, Moby-Dick, Herman Melville alludes to Lazarus and Dives in Chapter Two as part of Dives' stifled desire to revisit Israel to warn his brothers of his torment resembles Jacob Marley's successful and celebrated manifestation to similarly steer Ebenezer Scrooge from the path to suffering after death in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Gryphon also does a great cover of this song, on "Red Queen to Gryphon Three". Here's the link: https://youtu.be/69wZpcPtMIo Back to your show...
MrWondrous David Beckwith
2022-11-15 14:18:38 +0000 UTCPosted on a different platform - but he was the Fat Boy Slim etc. of his age
Geoff Budd
2022-11-14 23:17:39 +0000 UTCLast Night of the Proms has now been turned into a different thing - but music is still great.
Geoff Budd
2022-11-14 23:15:01 +0000 UTCAnd that's a good thing too!
Geoff Budd
2022-11-14 23:13:09 +0000 UTCAn amazing, brilliant and forward thinking composer - just love!
Geoff Budd
2022-11-14 23:12:07 +0000 UTCI know both those tunes well...they'd be great to include. Thanks, Michael.
R. Douglas Helvering
2022-11-13 17:58:32 +0000 UTCRalph Vaughn Williams is my Classical Composer of choice and this is wonderful and good to hear it from a professional perspective. His Lark Ascending nearly always tops the various polls from classical radio stations in the UK. If in the future you decide to do another RVW piece may I suggest his beautiful Fantasia On A Theme by Thomas Tallis you may know it but even so you won't be disappointed. Thank you.
Michael Brown
2022-11-13 04:20:24 +0000 UTC
