Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos.8 and 9

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Flourish for Glorious John

Philharmonia Orchestra

Leonard Slatkin




Track Listings
1. Flourish For Glorious John
2. Sym No.8 in d: Fant (Vari Senza Tema): Moderato/Presto/Andante Sostenuto/Allegretto...
3. Sym No.8 in d: Scherzo Alla Marcia (Per Stromenti A Fiato): Allegro Alla Marcia/Andante/Tempo I...
4. Sym No.8 in d: Cavatina (Per Stomenti Ad Arco): Lento Espressivo - Hugh Bean/David K. Jones
5. Sym No.8 in d: Toccata: Moderato Maestoso/Animato/Largamente
6. Sym No.9 in e: Moderato Maestoso: Tranquillo
7. Sym No.9 in e: Andante Sostenuto - David Mason
8. Sym No.9 in e: Scherzo: Allegro Pesante
9. Sym No.9 in e: Adante Tranquillo



Vaughan Williams wrote these symphonies in his Eighties, but there is no slackening of his creative vitality. The disc begins with the Flourish for Glorious John, a delightful little morsel, in tribute to his friend and champion Sir John Barbirolli. Indeed, Barbirolli gave the premiere and made the first recording of the Eighth Symphony. At least I think it was the first recording; Sir Adrian Boult recorded it almost contemporaneously for Decca. It is a wonderful symphony, filled, as Vaughan Williams said, with all the phones and spiels known to the composer. Slatkin is fully in tune with the spirit of the piece, drawing marvelous character sketches in the middle movements and letting loose in the Finale with no loss of clarity. The Ninth has always been the most enigmatic of Vaughan Williams's symphonies. Slatkin has the measure of the orchestration, with its spooky saxophones. Although the score is episodic, particularly in the last movement, Slatkin's tempos are well judged and the piece holds together wonderfully. Throughout, the Philharmonia play with great refinement, and the sound engineering is excellent. These are among my preferred performances for both symphonies.