The Lark Ascending (original version with piano).
Ralph Vaughan Williams (arr. Paul Drayton)
VOCES8 is joined by violinist Jack Liebeck for a performance of Paul Drayton’s arrangement of ‘The Lark Ascending’. The performance was part of the Live From London Summer Festival. The new recording is now available here https://orcd.co/mmkdy6o TEXT Extracts from ‘The Lark Ascending’ by George Meredith He rises and begins to round, He drops the silver chain of sound, Of many links without a break, In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake. For singing till his heaven fills, ‘Tis love of earth that he instils, And ever winging up and up, Our valley is his golden cup And he the wine which overflows to lift us with him as he goes. Till lost on his aerial rings In light, and then the fancy sings.
Recorded at Kings Weston House, music educator Dr. Jonathan James takes a close look at Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and brings the score to life, with insights into the structure and harmonies that make this such an iconic work. In this talk from the piano, Jonathan asks why this piece has retained its universal appeal over the century and how Vaughan Williams says so much with so little: how he combines high art with folk music, and how, through his imaginative touch, the flight of the lark becomes the flight of the soul. Watch the special online concert to celebrate 100 years since the first performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending at 19:30, Tue 15 Dec 2020. http://bristolbeacon.org/shows/the-la… CREDITS With thanks to Kings Weston House and Shirehampton Public Hall Presented by Bristol Beacon and Bristol Ensemble Supported using National Lottery funding by Arts Council England, The Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust and Paragon Music Trust Featuring Dr. Jonathan James Producer – Duncan Smith Director of Photography – Alex Riley Sound Recording – Jon Worsley Gaffer – Frazer Riches Editor – Alex Riley Sound Mixing – Jon Worsley