Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by sutekh

Does anyone have an actual direct link to this version they could post that doesn't involve a file hosting site (i.e., one that won't expire in a few months like all those provided have...)? Thanks!

Afraid not. Trying PMing Kuhlau. It may flush him out.

[Colin151]

Really would love to hear the mp3 file of the Gloucester Cathedral recording of this piece (one of my favourites). Unfortunately all the links
have long expired. Does anyone have a copy I they could send me?

Would be really appreicated.

Cheers,
Colin

[Sonatina]

I posted the link that Kuhlau provided so that I can listen to it.
It is a very beautiful pastoral piece! There can be no greater tribute to the Barbirolli version than to say that it is the gold standard by which all other performances of this extraordinary piece are now judged.
On that basis Andrew Davis' excellent account is the nearest I have heard to the Barbirolli version, though if I have an observasion it is that I think maybe he could have made a bit more of the acoustics of the Cathedral, but the idea is a brilliant one. All round it is a first class performance.
The real difficulty is that the Barbirolli is so stunning that it is difficult for subsequent performances to reinterpret the work. Davis has gone for safer ground in trying to emmulate the Barbirolli. It is excellent.

Here is a link to the Barbirolli version.

[Colin151]

Many thanks for your reply and the links. Its much appreciated

I have the Barbirolli/temple church version on several LPs (different labels) in both mono and stereo. Being a bit of a hifi buff I can safety state that the CD transfer is appalling. Its just sounds awful. The LP sounds smooth, clear and really big. Whereas the CD sounds brittle, cold, hard and compressed with poor dynamics. I really wish they would remaster the album for CD using modern techniques from the original master tapes. I note a 180g vinyl release of it came of about 10 years ago. Its a shame they did not release a new CD at the same time. If anyone knows if there is a better CD version would be good to know.
My advice for people who have only heard this version on CD is to find someone with a decent hifi system and a good stereo LP pressing from the 60 or 70s. I'm willing to oblige if anyone wants to hear it near London.

I have not listened to the Gloucester Cathedral version in full but it sounds excellent from the clip you posted and similar to the Barbirolli version. All the other versions I have listened to (and I have heard many) have not lived up to the Barbirolli (at all) but this new version seems to have it in spades and be in the perfect acoustic.

A hifi friend of mine once told me he had a LP of this work made at Wells Cathedral I would be very interested to hear that, - I will contact him and find out the details. I guess it would be much older than the Andrew Davis version though.

Here is a treat. I searched for this for whole day and eventually found it. The BBC music magazine CD83 in FLAC format (not mp3). I have already downloaded this myself. When the link expires I'd be happy to supply to anyone if they'd like it, - just PM me.

<<--Link removed-->>

Cheers,
Colin

[Philidor]

Sorry Colin, don't take offence, but I've removed that link. The forum risks all sorts of trouble if found hosting possibly illegal file sharing links. We know the law's an ass but it's still the law...

[Colin151]

OK I've given the Gloucester Cathedral/Davies/BBC version a full listen now. Its stunning. The performance is very good and the acoustic is simply jaw dropping. I can't imagine hearing this piece in another acoustic after hearing this!

I would say the actual performance is similar in style to the Barbirolli/Temple Church version, but not quite as good. This is still the next best (performance wise) along with the amazing acoustic means that this is the definitive version for me. Its a bit odd they never released this version on retail CD afterwards too.

[Colin151]

OK Sorry about that. I've only just realised the link was to a file sharing site.

Originally Posted by Philidor

Sorry Colin, don't take offence, but I've removed that link. The forum risks all sorts of trouble if found hosting possibly illegal file sharing links. We know the law's an ass but it's still the law...

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Colin151

OK Sorry about that. I've only just realised the link was to a file sharing site.

No problem, easily done.

[hi fi chile]

Originally Posted by Kuhlau

It was an easy decision to post this here rather than in either the Romantic or Modern music sections. Firstly, because Vaughan Williams' first masterpiece is neither Modern nor Romantic in purely technical terms, and secondly, because the short song on which it's based comes from the Renaissance period.

Before we go any further, let's here this 'theme' by Tallis: Why Fum'th in Fight?

A minor masterpiece

Those familiar with Vaughan Williams' brilliant reimagining of this song will hear at once where some of the Fantasia's most enchanting moments have their origin. For those who've not yet discovered this work, you're about to hear possibly the finest recording of the Fantasia - to which I can post a link with a clear conscience, as you can't buy this version in the shops.

A cathedral of sound

Vaughan Williams wrote the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for the Three Choirs Festival in 1910. More specifically, he wrote it to be heard in the incredible architectural space of Gloucester Cathedral.

The musicians are divided into three groups - a full-sized string orchestra, a single desk from each section, and a string quartet - and set at distances from each other. The effect is striking, and must've been quite something when heard at its premiere: all those wonderful string sounds rising into the cathedral's vaults and slowly decaying.

The young Ivor Gurney and Herbert Howells were in attendance for the performance, and it's said that they were so awe-struck by the work that they spent the entire night discussing it as they wandered the streets of Gloucester.

The work on CD

There have been a great many recordings of this fine work over the years (at least 39 performances), and recently, Geraint Lewis surveyed all of these for Gramophone magazine.

It's to his reviews that I turn next. Here are his opinions of a selection of recordings made since the 1970s:

• Sir Neville Marriner/Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (1972): 'splendidly played'

• Vernon Handley/London Philharmonic Orchestra (1973): 'too fast'

• Andre Previn/London Symphony Orchestra (1979): 'surprisingly dreadful'

• William Boughton/English String Orchestra (1984): 'scrappy'

• Bryden Thomson/London Philharmonic Orchestra (1986): 'perfectly good account'

• James Judd/New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (2001): 'satisfying but not stirring'

• Christopher Warren-Green/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2002): 'anonymous'

• Robert Spano/Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (2006): 'stiff'

I can't say that I go along with all of Lewis' terse pronouncements - the Judd and Spano accounts are personal favourites - but where Lewis and I are in agreement (almost) is on the top recorded choices for this work.

Which version to buy?

Lewis cites four versions which he believes are the cream of the crop. His historical choice is Boyd Neel with his string orchestra, transferred from 78s on the Dutton label. Lewis' period option is Barry Wordsworth conducting the London Symphony Orchestra (using gut strings) on Decca. His top overall choice is Sir Adrian Boult with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on EMI ... but it's not to this version that I want to draw your attention. I'd rather you focused on the performance Lewis claims is the finest modern recording: Sir Andrew Davis conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, now reissued on Apex.

Why am I pointing you in this direction? Two reasons. The first is that this is an astonishingly good performance, directed by a man who has this music in his blood. Every note, every phrase, every change of tempo is immaculately calculated yet never feels rehearsed - and the sound is simply exquisite.

An even better version

The second reason is that my top choice is also Sir Andrew Davis with the BBC Symphony Orchestra ... but NOT the version that's commercially available.

Seven years after Lewis' favourite modern-day recording was made, Davis and his orchestra made a second, even better one. But this time, not in a studio. For a special BBC TV series, they recorded it in Gloucester Cathedral. And the result is nothing short of stunning.

This version was only ever released as a pairing with Walton's Belshazzar's Feast on volume 7, number 11 in the BBC Music Magazine's free cover CD series. So, because you can't purchase it anywhere today, I can let you hear it via a 320kbps MP3 upload I made especially for this post.

Hear this work as it should be heard

I promise you this: it's possible that you'll never again hear a finer version of this sublime work - and I'm fairly certain it won't often be recorded in the venue for which it was written.

If you know this work, you're going to hear it anew. And if you don't, you're going to hear something very, very special.

Enjoy.

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (MP3 @ 320kbps)

FK

Hi , I have been searching for this recording for 6 years ! Can you or anyone please either re-upload it or tell me how I can get a copy .
thanks

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by hi fi chile

Hi , I have been searching for this recording for 6 years ! Can you or anyone please either re-upload it or tell me how I can get a copy .
thanks

I fear, in terms of a free, legal, download, it's gone. You'll need to track it down and buy it.