The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Neville Marriner is one fine performance group. And on this CD they perform what’s likely to be one of their specialties, and that’s British music.
The beauty of “The Lark Ascending” is astounding. It actually allows me to connect with nature, even though I’m in my living room. The composition displays the interweaving of the wonderful solo violin’s melodies with the orchestra’s instruments. An interplay results, which lets the listener “observe”, as it were, the soaring and diving of the Lark as depicted by the lovely violin solo of Iona Brown. There is a whole emotional range to this piece, and lots of opportunity for the violinist to display her excellent sensitivity and playing skills.
Three additional compositions by Vaughn Williams are also on the same CD:
- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
- The Fantasia on Greensleeves
- Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’