MASTERWORKS: SIX PIECES OF BRITAIN: RALPH VAUGHN WILLIAMS: THE TALLIS & FANTASIA {2000 INTERNATIONAL EMMY NOMINEE} (TV)
Summary
One in this six-part series hosted by Michael Berkely exploring six key works from Britain's twentieth century musical renaissance. This part examines Ralph Vaughan Williams's 1910 composition "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Thallis." Sir Andrew Davis, conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, talks about hearing the piece for the first time. Next, Ursula Vaughan Williams, wife of the late composer, details how her husband composed "Fantasia" to be performed specifically at the Gloucester Cathedral. Williams's hymn "Come Down O' Love Divine" is played. Next, Michael Kennedy, William's biographer, explains the composer's beliefs on "carving out a path of music for [one's] own country's people." Recordings of Williams's "Bushes and Briars" and "The Lark Ascending" play in the background. Next, Berkeley details how Williams was inspired by Tallis's "Christian Year" hymn to use three separate orchestras to create specific reverberations for his "Fantasia." This program ends with Davis and the Orchestra traveling by bus to the Gloucester Cathedral. Davis marvels at how far apart the three orchestras will be placed. Next, the Orchestra, still in "street" clothes, rehearses as Davis tries to perfectly tweak the sound. Finally, the tuxedo-clad musicians, lit only by the moon, perform "Fantasia."
Details
- NETWORK: BBC (United Kingdom)
- DATE: July 10, 1999 Saturday 6:15 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:71345
- GENRE: Music; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom; Orchestral music
- SERIES RUN: BBC (United Kingdom) - TV, 2000
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dominic Best … Producer
- Francesca Kemp … Producer
- Philip Tagney … Producer
- Peter Maniura … Producer, Director
- Ralph Vaughn Williams … Composer
- Andrew Davis … Conductor
- Michael Davis … Instrumentalist, Leader and Solo Violin
- Robert Bishop … Instrumentalist, Violin
- Anna Colman … Instrumentalist, Violin
- Rusen Gunes … Instrumentalist, Viola
- Susan Monks … Instrumentalist, Cello
- David Briggs … Instrumentalist, Assistant Organist
- Michael Berkeley … Host
- Freddie Jones … Voice, Ralph Vaughan Williams
- BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Choir of Gloucester Cathedral, The
- Thomas Tallis