Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3, "A Pastoral Symphony"* • Symphony No. 4 - Bernard Haitink, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 3, published as "A Pastoral Symphony" and not numbered until later, was completed in 1922. Vaughan Williams's initial inspiration to write this symphony came during World War I, after hearing a bugler practicing and accidentally playing an interval of a seventh instead of an octave; this ultimately led to the trumpet cadenza in the second movement. The work is among the least performed of Vaughan Williams' symphonies, but it has gained the reputation of being a subtly beautiful elegy for the dead of World War I and a meditation on the sounds of peace. Like many of the composer's works, the Pastoral Symphony is not programmatic, but its spirit is very evocative. None of the movements is particularly fast or upbeat, but there are isolated extrovert sections to be found.

The Symphony No. 4 in F minor by Ralph Vaughan Williams was dedicated by the composer to Arnold Bax. Unlike Vaughan Williams's first three symphonies it was not given a title, the composer stating that it was to be understood as pure music, without any incidental or external inspiration. In contrast to Vaughan Williams's previous compositions, the symphony is characterised by a severity of tone. The British composer William Walton admired the work greatly, speaking of it as "the greatest symphony since Beethoven", and the score certainly contains many innovations. Speaking about this work, Vaughan Williams said, "I don't know whether I like it, but it's what I meant." The work was first performed on April 10, 1935 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Adrian Boult.

In an interview haitink once stated that "one should drink wine only in the country where it was made." Hence the choice for the LPO for these recordings.

Tracklist:
1. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3, "A Pastoral Symphony" - 1. Molto moderato
2. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3, "A Pastoral Symphony" - 2. Lento moderato
3. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3, "A Pastoral Symphony" - 3. Moderato pesante
4. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3, "A Pastoral Symphony" - 4. Lento
5. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 - 1. Allegro
6. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 - 2. Andante moderato
7. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 - 3. Scherzo (allegro moderato)
8. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 - 4. Finale con epilogo fugato (allegro molto)




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