Various Artists - Albion's Journey (2019)
Various Artists - Albion's Journey (2019)
WEB FLAC (tracks+booklet) - 285 MB | Tracks: 24 | 77:50 min
Style: Classical | Label: Albion Records
WEB FLAC (tracks+booklet) - 285 MB | Tracks: 24 | 77:50 min
Style: Classical | Label: Albion Records
Albion's Journey' largely comprises a selection of tracks from eleven of the recordings issued by Albion Records between 2013 and 2019, including two albums that were nominated for Grammy awards. However, there are seven tracks that are new to CD. On six spoken word tracks we hear the voices of Vaughan Williams himself, Herbert Howells, Michael Tippett and Roy Douglas. We learn something of the composer's musical education, his views on folk song, his working methods, and the affection felt towards him by many of those who were close to him.
The album begins with the first recording of The Robin's Nest, which is the first piece known to have been written by Vaughan Williams, in his sixth year. Albion Records specialises in world-première recordings, mainly but not exclusively of works by Vaughan Williams, and many of these have been fairly early works. Despite that, this album features works written in the reign of every monarch from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, covering an 80-year span from 1878 to 1958.
The previous compilation, issued in 2015, ALBCDSAMP Albion's Vision, set out Albion's early successes. This new release combines music with the spoken word to trace elements of the composer's lifelong journey. Just as Pilgrim (or Christian in Bunyan's novel and the 1943 radio play) is travelling towards the Celestial City, Vaughan Williams, much influenced by Blake, was on his own journey, in search of a New Albion. It concludes with the composer talking about the Pilgrim's battle with Apollyon, followed by our 1943 recording of Christian's passage through the waters, to be serenaded with Alleluias by the Heavenly Hosts.
The cover is based on an unpublished photograph taken by Ursula Vaughan Williams on their honeymoon in 1953, on the shores of Lake Garda.
Tracklist:
1. The Robin's Nest - Frank Ericson (piano)
2. Summum Bonum - William Vann (piano); Nicky Spence (tenor)
3. Vaughan Williams talking about Parry - Ralph Vaughan Williams (speaker)
4. Three Vocal Valses: Winter - The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (choir); William Vann (Piano)
5. Three Impressions for Orchestra: Burley Heath - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
6. The Last Invocation - William Vann (piano); Mary Bevan (soprano); Johnny Herford (baritone); Thomas Go
7. Three Nocturnes: I Smile O Voluptuous Cool-Breath?d Earth - Roderick Williams (baritone); BBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
8. Herbert Howells talking about RVW - Herbert Howells (speaker)
9. Iphigenia in Tauris: O Fair the Fruits of Leto Blow - Heather Lowe (mezzo soprano); Britten Sinfonia (orchestra); Joyful Company of Si
10. Eight Traditional English Carols: The Twelve Apostles - The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (choir); Hugh Rowlands (Organ)
11. Vaughan Williams talking about Folk Song - Ralph Vaughan Williams (speaker)
12. A Farmer's Boy - The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (choir)
13. Dirge for Fidele - Les Sirnes (choir)
14. Roy Douglas talking about RVW - Roy Douglas (speaker)
15. Wither's Rocking Hymn - The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (choir); Hugh Rowlands (Organ)
16. The Running Set - Goldstone and Clemmow (pianos)
17. Suite for Viola and Pianoforte: Prelude - Martin Outram (viola); Julian Rolton (piano)
18. Songs from The Poisoned Kiss: Dear Love - William Vann (piano); Nicky Spence (tenor)
19. Songs from The Poisoned Kiss: Love Breaks all Rules - William Vann (piano); Mary Bevan (soprano); Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano)
20. The Bridal Day: Scene VI (extract) - Philip Smith (baritone); Joyful Company of Singers (choir); Britten Sinfonia Sep
21. Tippett talking about RVW - Michael Tippett (speaker)
22. Four Last Songs: Procris - Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano); BBC Symphony Orchestra (orchestra)
23. Vaughan Williams talking about Sibelius - Ralph Vaughan Williams (speaker)
24. Christian & Hopeful meet the Heavenly Hosts - Margaret Godley (soprano); Margaret Rolfe (contralto); Bradbridge White (tenor);
FILE: 01. The Robin's Nest.flac
Size: 1952843 Hash: 96B58D0B6781D3776621CDF49080FF42 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 436E431C4EBDB09D1FC3619A9DC59D9CECEF90D4
FILE: 02. Summum Bonum.flac
Size: 9172060 Hash: C8E510575CF06B843F866D40E108C5CF Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: MPEG 100%
Signature: 9A2D3435844EADBBBF76AD6E6A0DBB4F0E6E9ECC
FILE: 03. Vaughan Williams Talking About Parry.flac
Size: 4673969 Hash: C867015A09AB7B8126F61A8DAB022EFC Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: CD4C8A40DD80DA4080CF5FE1FF610BC6658EDE72
FILE: 04. Vocal Valse for Mixed Chorus & Piano _Winter_.flac
Size: 10175834 Hash: 4AC3E7AB1368DAD14847E601CF90FBAA Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: 4B480DF5547298AC9E12752E15B1D96BA92807B3
FILE: 05. Impression for Orchestra _Burley Heath_.flac
Size: 18861536 Hash: 2E573B5C37C643CE17872C7958B17BAB Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: MPEG 93%
Signature: E0888A30E3CB518C5D847100351CE4D59D76052F
FILE: 06. The Last Invocation.flac
Size: 20466902 Hash: 9120C5F32EDDB51C066F9D7BC5466BAA Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 49%
Signature: 39D5F66B741B36073A52AD3C3B97C4A9E5D31E40
FILE: 07. Smile O Voluptuous Cool-Breath’d Earth.flac
Size: 16247021 Hash: 8827E8C205DD955EF5291F8F89A33AF9 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 62%
Signature: D422CCAFD52B81D898566FD5D35210B85F953822
FILE: 08. Herbert Howells Talking About RVW.flac
Size: 2397144 Hash: FA0907EB0BEFE200DA9E144C125EC1A0 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: F5C5A7A1035B33AD7A2E84F22A4882A5A6D1EE22
FILE: 09. Incidental Music to _Iphigenia in Tauris__ IV. O, Fair the Fruits of Leto Blow.flac
Size: 30895339 Hash: 3D16C1B9E216B6623F33397842CB26AC Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 49%
Signature: 76FCDAFFF3A57EA71D53D079258EC213632DD1E2
FILE: 10. 8 Traditional English Carols_ No. 3, The Twelve Apostles.flac
Size: 17380840 Hash: 9891CF6B6F4F9183ACC2A3F387942A06 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: 3FE3817149A6DEA7C8947480876F85F053E54A96
FILE: 11. Vaughan Williams Talking About Folk Song.flac
Size: 5076352 Hash: 7C9BC5CDC8157BFF0BCE888C8D0BA954 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: BD2C0CA0969328EC6A3588DD8C6BD854457985D8
FILE: 12. A Farmer's Boy (Arr. R. Vaughan Williams).flac
Size: 10192403 Hash: 4279B56B004E334BDFCA77D1AE60EC5E Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 54%
Signature: 77A8EB6414927255B617833AF44A642218AEE048
FILE: 13. Dirge for Fidele.flac
Size: 18992112 Hash: B51DB5C3C7E9ED36F62886F4D029806C Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 58%
Signature: 63CE4137644E4B8FE8784DBAC157D9F28D1EE533
FILE: 14. Roy Douglas Talking About RVW.flac
Size: 2567075 Hash: 9625CDAF8CCE6E3F359B75F3662EA134 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: F35D0D623FDA8B423A04A13FF3480728BF0E3B62
FILE: 15. Wither's Rocking Hymn.flac
Size: 18078321 Hash: B662A00EE77BD831BB27176365FAF383 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 42%
Signature: 9FE4D253D3DE54CCC32830EE674DA9A56D18B0C9
FILE: 16. The Running Set (Arr. V. Lasker & H. Bidder).flac
Size: 24704096 Hash: 4A822A19A844B4BB936EF0A0359B47C6 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: MPEG 100%
Signature: 16FAC7AE6384DFB39FF72FB9AADACEE4D05A1FB7
FILE: 17. Suite for Viola & Piano_ I. Prelude.flac
Size: 10515697 Hash: 952E17B888C5FB5314400A08C566F52B Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: 9AF544FF3684917E7D3C3145631E7102C6624031
FILE: 18. The Poisoned Kiss (Excerpts Arr. A. Williams)_ Dear Love.flac
Size: 12867657 Hash: F4DFC96CFC24BEEF9BBF6936824DD6FB Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 49%
Signature: 225FBC69E1D782CF98E87975F384209B612295B0
FILE: 19. The Poisoned Kiss (Excerpts Arr. A. Williams)_ Love Breaks all Rules.flac
Size: 14024614 Hash: E756EBCFCA6FFE012AB6DD4D9BF672DB Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: 44D7A6743ACE6D8C55D60FA2F802E230CED3EA94
FILE: 20. The Bridal Day, Scene 4 (Excerpts).flac
Size: 19840762 Hash: 151A5412FD7A0A486734CCE4870523AC Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 42%
Signature: C3653AD66B0D23AFDAF4E712EC9CD5945342BD10
FILE: 21. Tippett talking about RVW.flac
Size: 3926814 Hash: 0E168E5E42CC80E5B52BC0C744EB969F Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: MPEG 90%
Signature: D58C31997B8FD027C3A856674FE0E365FF42D7FC
FILE: 22. 4 Last Songs_ No. 1, Procris (Orch. by A. Payne).flac
Size: 9635722 Hash: 04FC556244F47FCE4FE39AB4E2D8F81F Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: 72B04510B67580392A253DAA6C1E8B2636E3B5D6
FILE: 23. Vaughan Williams talking about Sibelius.flac
Size: 4306396 Hash: DAE27CD9ED2322419A9059707838FE75 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: EEFC61883292E387E2141FE059AB21B1C2807C92
FILE: 24. The Pilgrim's Progress_ Christian & Hopeful Meet the Heavenly Hosts.flac
Size: 10782103 Hash: AB3700DB5918E85FD75895A84A826410 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: MPEG 100%
Signature: 2A0BD5094D84A287093A0F7A5FF2D6E7D5B79512