In celebrating the 100th year since the premier of the magnificent and grandiose “A Sea Symphony” by R. Vaughn Williams in 1910, the San Jose Symponic Choir joins forces with the Nova Vista Symphony to perform this incredible work. Save the date: November 28, 2009; you will not want to miss this!
Vaughn Williams selected poetry by Walt Whitman and set it to a magnificent music setting. The Washington Post said, “This was without doubt one of the great musical events of the season, from the opening shout of “Behold! The sea itself . . .” through the whispered exhortation “O farther, farther, farther sail,” that brings this endearing leviathan to rest some 80 minutes later. This is a spacious, multidimensional and altogether glorious work originally performed in 1910.”
A reviewer, Rafael Collin says, “I fell asleep at a performance of Vaughan Williams’ “A Sea Symphony” some years ago. It is a LONG piece. I would not recommend it as a first Vaughan Williams purchase, unless you are a particular fan of choral music.
On the other hand, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Robert Shaw (America’s “Mr. Choral Music“) described this symphony on the radio as “the most beautiful piece of choral music written in the 20th century“. Wow! That covers 100 years, you know. And I deeply enjoy other pieces by RVW, including his Four Hymns and Five Mystical Songs.
“The symphony is a setting of poems by Walt Whitman that celebrate human daring, and RVW matched that by writing an immense symphony. If you have not heard this symphony before, you could not imagine the sonic images Vaughan Williams creates for ships, sailors, and the sea. The first notes at the music’s very beginning have the full chorus and orchestra at top voice singing ‘Behold, the Sea itself!‘ It is startlingly majestic, and yet it is followed by an almost vulgarly pop and spiky little tune for male voice (baritone) and bassoon that I now sing everyday while shaving ‘today, a rude brief recitative about ships sailing the sea …’ The diversity is wonderful -” [Review by Rafael Collin "Rafe"]
To get a preview, visit eMusic to download the 4 sound tracks or the entire album as recorded by the London Sympony Orchestra and Chorus. Another source, Classics Online, also has the tracks or album available as well.
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus recording
