This Sceptred Isle

1. Pomp and Circumstance, 5 marches for orchestra, Op. 39 Pomp & Circumstance March No 01 in D Major, Op 39
Composed by Edward Elgar
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
2. Pieces (2), for small orchestra, RT vi/19 On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
Composed by Frederick Delius
Performed by English Sinfonia Conducted by Charles Groves

3. Folksong Arrangements, Vol. III "British Isles", for voice & piano Foggy, Foggy Dew, the
Composed by Benjamin Britten
with Paul Esswood , Judith Ridgway

4. The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125 Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Richard Hickox

5. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, for 2 string orchestras Excerpt
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Wilfried Boettcher

6. Coronation Anthem No.1 for chorus & orchestra "Zadok the Priest" HWV 258
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by London Sinfonia Conducted by Gary Cole

7. Handel in the Strand for piano (or piano, 4 hands or piano trio or string orchestra)
Composed by Percy Grainger
with Markham , David Nettle

8. Orpheus with His Lute (from "Shakespeare Songs (5)"), song for voice & piano
Composed by Arthur Sullivan
with Jennifer Purvis , Elizabeth Ritchie

9. Salut d'amour for piano or orchestra, Op. 12
Composed by Edward Elgar
with William Bouton , Leonore Hall

10. Enigma Variations for orchestra, Op.36 No. 09 Nimrod
Composed by Edward Elgar
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
11. Suites (8) for trumpet & strings in D Rondeau
Composed by Jeremiah Clarke
with Graham Ashton , Leslie Pearson

12. Thy hand, Belinda...When I am laid in Earth (from "Dido and Aeneas"), soprano aria, Z. 626/37 When I Am Laid in Earth (Dido's Lament)
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Gillian Fisher , King's Consort

13. Requiem for soloists, chorus & orchestra Pie Jesu
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Performed by Roseberry Chamber Orchestra with Gavin Moralee , Fiona Wight

14. Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, Op. 10 Romance
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by English Sinfonia Conducted by John Farrer

15. Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge, for strings, Op. 10 Aria Italiana
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Performed by English Sinfonia Conducted by John Farrer

16. Allegro vivace for cello (or violin, viola, clarinet) & piano (Study in English Folk Song No. 6 "As I Walked Over London Bridge")
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Robin Cantor
Conducted by James Judd

17. St. Paul's Suite, for strings, Op. 29/2, H. 118 Fourth Movement: Finale (The Dargason)
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by English Sinfonia Conducted by John Farrer

18. Henry V, choral suite (arr. by M.Sargent) and orchestral suite (arr. by C.Matthieson) Agincourt Song
Composed by William Walton
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Andre Previn

19. The Old 100th Psalm ("All people that on earth do dwell"), for chorus, unison chorus, orchestra, & organ
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
with London Brass , Iain Simcock
Conducted by Martin Neary

Customer Reviews:

I HAVE seen this CD and really like it........2003-10-31

This is a two CD set on which, though several of the cuts are edited, more than half appear in their entirety. What a splendid set they make! I've always been a fan of the musical grandeur evinced in British Imperial music. This album, particularly the first disc, offers music from this genre in spades, both instrumental and choral works. Hubert Parry's "I Was Glad" shines out in dazzling brilliance. Listening to Walton's warhorse "Crown Imperial" and Elgar's "Coronation March" we can visualize the full ceremony of state. And listening to Coates' "Dam Busters March" brings to mind all the hope of a proud people fighting, down to its last collective drop of blood, a mortal threat being wrought by an invader's ruthless forces. I'm sure this sounds melodramatic, but after all, total emotion is what this music is all about. I might ask for a cut or two less of Coates or Walton, not because those recordings were not excellent, but because, instead, I'd have liked a cut from Bridge, Tippett, or even Rutter. But, excepting that slight objection, this CD duo does its job most excellently and well.