Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Re

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Vaughan Williams's contribution to 20th-century choral music is substantial, but several of his works inexplicably remain in relative obscurity, one of them being the unabashedly Brahmsian (and a little Wagnerian) "Toward the Unknown Region." This "song" for chorus and orchestra, Vaughan Williams's first major choral piece, is a richly romantic setting of a poem by Walt Whitman, whose ideas greatly impressed many young artists and musicians in the late 19th century. Another rarely heard work is his Four Hymns, for solo tenor, viola, and strings. This wonderfully sonorous and inventive piece deserves much greater notoriety--an event that certainly will be helped by John Mark Ainsley's fine performance here. The monumental Dona Nobis Pacem-the best known of the works on this program--also receives a strong, dynamic, and compelling reading that places it among the best on disc. --David Vernier

Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Four Hymns/Toward The Unknown Region/O Clap Your Hands/Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Re, Music, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Matthew Best, Corydon Orchestra, Judith Howarth, John Mark Ainsley, Matthew Souter, Sir Thomas Allen [baritone], Cantata, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Psalm Setting, Secular Choral Music with Orchestra, Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra, Vocal

Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Four Hymns/Toward The Unknown Region/O Clap Your Hands/Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Re
Average customer rating:

Best's is best

Great recording, especially the lesser-known works

Great modern-day recording

A superior recording

Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem/Four Hymns/Toward The Unknown Region/O Clap Your Hands/Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Re

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard/Bartok: Cantata profanna/Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem

Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem, etc / Bryden Thomson

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Vaughan Williams - Along the Field on Wenlock Edge · Merciless Beauty · Ten Blake Songs, and others / Ainsley · The Nash Ensemble

ASIN: B000002ZSU
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Tracks:

Dona nobis pacem. I. Dona nobis pacem
Dona nobis pacem. II. Beat! Beat! Drums!
Dona nobis pacem. III. Reconciliation
Dona nobis pacem. IV. Dirge for Two Veterans
Dona nobis pacem. V.
Four Hymns. I. Lord! Come away!
Four Hymns. II. Who is this fair One?
Four Hymns. III.Come Love, Come Lord
Four Hymns. IV. Evening Hymn
Toward the Unknown Region
O clap your hands (Psalm 47)
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (Psalm 90)

Amazon.com

Vaughan Williams's contribution to 20th-century choral music is substantial, but several of his works inexplicably remain in relative obscurity, one of them being the unabashedly Brahmsian (and a little Wagnerian) "Toward the Unknown Region." This "song" for chorus and orchestra, Vaughan Williams's first major choral piece, is a richly romantic setting of a poem by Walt Whitman, whose ideas greatly impressed many young artists and musicians in the late 19th century. Another rarely heard work is his Four Hymns, for solo tenor, viola, and strings. This wonderfully sonorous and inventive piece deserves much greater notoriety--an event that certainly will be helped by John Mark Ainsley's fine performance here. The monumental Dona Nobis Pacem-the best known of the works on this program--also receives a strong, dynamic, and compelling reading that places it among the best on disc. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Best's is best.......2006-05-31

Deeming a particular recording 'best' is highly subjective but the pun could not be resisted. All the same, of the four recordings of 'Dona Nobis Pacem' that I own, this is my favourite. (As someone once asked me, why would you own four recordings of the same piece? My answer, because that's all that are available.) No one recording of this cantata is superlative in every single respect. For example, Thomson's features the best soprano performance, that of Edith Wiens. Hickox with the LSO has perhaps better orchestral playing and terrific crescendos, and the best 'Beat Beat Drums' section. But I prefer Best's recording for two reasons. First, because of his attention to nuance. The trailing voices on the phrase 'this soiled world', the ominous, distant tympani in the Agnus Dei, the way the Dirge section builds, then fades to piano on "All the channels", and the complex segues from trumpet to organ to strings in the final section, all reveal a loving attention to the details of this hugely variegated score. Second, and more important, this performance most eloquently captures the passion of the subject and of Whitman's poetry. For example, the baritone solo and violin in the 'Reconciliation' section are so well paced and achingly well played and sung. 'Reconciliation' is perhaps the most important section of the oratorio, and Best's version is unsurpassingly sublime. The fact that there are perhaps fewer voices in the choir is evident in the final 'Glory to God', but I feel that overall the singing is more expressive than say, Shaw's version where the choir's velvety smoothness and fullness fails to convey any excitement at all. The soprano, Judith Howarth, is lovely and ethereal especially in the sustains of the opening passages. As for the rest of the recording, the 'Four Hymns' pair well with the Cantata. 'Toward the Unknown Region', an earlier Vaughan Williams work, is also well done, and provides another wonderful Vaughan Williams' setting of Walt Whitman's work. I could say more, but recommend this recording without reservation.

Great recording, especially the lesser-known works.......2004-07-07

About half this CD is given over to "Dona Nobis Pacem," Vaughan Williams' 1936 anti-war cantata. Other recordings of this work exist--notably Robert Shaw's Grammy-winning Telarc recording, and Richard Hickox's EMI recording. While this version doesn't quite match the grandeur of Shaw and Hickox, it is still a very good recording in its own right.

What makes this CD worth the money, though, is the generous "fillers" that complete the CD. John Mark Ainsley is magnificent in the "Four Hymns" (scored here for tenor, viola, and string orchestra), and the Corydon forces do an admirable job with "Toward the Unknown Region" and "O Clap Your Hands."

But my personal favorite track on this CD has to be the finale, "Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge," which skillfully combines a Biblical version of Psalm 90 with the first verse of Isaac Watts' famous poetic version (O God, our help in ages past). It is a surprising work, yet RVW's handiwork is obvious and unmistakeable.

If you're a fan of RVW, this CD is definitely worth the money.

Great modern-day recording.......2002-06-20

This was actually the second recording of the Dona Nobis Pacem that I purchased. I can't decide if I prefer this modern-day recording or the historical recording (released by Pearl) with the composer conducting. If you enjoy Vaughan Williams or choral music, both should actually be in your library, but this recording's greater sound quality probably qualifies it more for the more casual listener. Enjoy both of them from time to time!

A superior recording.......2000-10-20

Matthew Best and the Corydon Singers have made one of the finest, precise recordings of RVW's choral works. No muddy sound from a cathedral, it is clear and precise. The range of warmth and excitement appropriate to each piece will satisfy choral afficionados. Ainsley's interpretation of "Four Hymns" is arresting. "O clap your hands" makes my heart quicken. If you've wanted the "Dona Nobis" THIS is the recording.

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