This page lists all recordings of Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) on CD. Generally, more recent CDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock. This was the first large-scale piece composed by Vaughan Williams after his studies with Ravel in Paris in 1908, and although it demonstrates his familiarity with the new school of French music, much of the work also looks back to the traditional English choral music of Purcell, Byrd, and, of course, Tallis. Vaughan Williams found the theme when he edited The English Hymnal, Tallis having originally composed it in 1567. Scored for two unequal string orchestras and string quartet, the spread chords, majestic cadences and unearthly serenity mean this piece is an enduring favourite. |
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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Sir John Barbirolli - Bucharest & Turin Concerts
Beethoven: | Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 recorded 'live' – Romanian Athenian, Bucharest, 13 September 1958 George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra | Debussy: | La Mer recorded 'live' – Romanian Athenian, Bucharest, 13 September 1958 George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra | Holst: | The Planets, Op. 32 (Mars, Venus, Mercury, Uranus & Jupiter). Recorded 'live' – Auditorium di Torino della RAI, 15 November 1957 RAI Symphony Orchestra, Turin | Vaughan Williams: | Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis recorded 'live' – Romanian Athenian, Bucharest, 13 September 1958 George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra | Wagner: | Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Overture recorded 'live' – Romanian Athenian, Bucharest, 13 September 1958 George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra |
The Barbirolli Society's new 2-CD release brings together ‘live’ recordings, from the late 1950s, of Sir John conducting the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and the RAI Symphony Orchestra, Turin. The complete concert from the Romanian Atheneum, Bucharest in September 1958 consisted of Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Vaughan Williams’s Fanstasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Debussy’s La Mer and Beethoven’s Symphony No.7. The George Enescu Philharmonic was founded in 1868, the Romanian Philharmonic Society, conducted by Eduard Wachman, aimed at creating a permanent symphonic orchestra in order to promote musical culture and popularise classical music. When the palace of the Romanian Athenaeum was inaugurated, on 15 March 1889, concerts began to be held there, asnow, and is the headquarters of the Philharmonic. Eduard Wachman, conducted until 1907, and was succeeded by Dimitrie Dinicu, then in 1920, by George Georgescu, a remarkable conductor, student of Arthur Nikisch and Richard Strauss. After George Enescu died, in 1955, the Philharmonic took his name. The five movements from Holst’s The Planets (Mars, Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Jupiter) comes from a concert in Turin on15 November 1957. | 
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| |  | Sir Adrian Boult
London Philharmonic Orchestra, New Philharmonic Orchestra & BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult Recorded: Cheltenham Festival, 7 July 1972 (Vaughan Williams), Barking Town Hall, 26 November 1969 (Hadley, Bax), Maida Vale Studios, 12 December 1966 (Berg) Sir Adrian Boult was Vaughan Williams's close friend and one of his greatest advocates. The broadcast in excellent stereo from the 1972 Cheltenham Festival marks the composers 100th anniversary with wonderful performances of Symphony No.6 (Boult gave the first performance of this work in 1947) and the ever popular Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. Boult recorded these works in the studio many times but these are live performances and the occasion is palpably felt. There are two short fillers in stereo from Patrick Hadley (celebrating Vaughan Williams's 70th birthday) and Arnold Bax with his warmly atmospheric 'Mediterranean' both recorded in the studio in 1969. As a substantial bonus and also as a 'must' for Boult collectors is a very rare broadcast made in 1966 in stereo of Berg's 'Lyric Suite'. Boult gave a pioneering performance of Berg's 'Wozzeck' in 1933 and therefore it is of particular interest to hear his interpretation of the three movement 'Lyric Suite', one of the composers most approachable works. “...testaments to what an outstanding Vaughan Williams interpreter Boult was, whether in the luminous intensity and effortlessly sculpted lines of the Fantasia, or the brutal drama he unleashes in the Sixth, whose premiere he had conducted 24 years earlier.” The Guardian, 1st May 2009 **** “…characteristically unforced, humane and, above all, honest readings of the Tallis Fantasia and Sixth Symphony… Boult aficionados will not want to miss this absorbing anthology.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2009 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 4-6
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| |  | The Essential Vaughan Williams
Vaughan Williams: | The Lark Ascending Hugh Bean (violin) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult Linden Lea words by William Barnes) Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) & Gerald Moore (piano) Fantasia on Greensleeves Sinfonia of London, Sir John Barbirolli Silent Noon Ian Bostridge (tenor) & Julius Drake (piano) English Folk Song Suite (orch. Gordon Jacob) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult The Vagabond (from Songs of Travel) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) & David Willison (piano) Serenade to Music (original version with 16 soloists) Norma Burrowes, Sheila Armstrong, Susan Longfield, Marie Hayward (soprano), Alfreda Hodgson, Gloria Jennings, Shirley Minty, Meriel Dickinson (contralto), Ian Partridge, Bernard Dickerson, Wynford Evans, Kenneth Bowen (tenor), Richard Angas, John Carol Case, John Noble & Christopher Keyte (bass) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult Prelude on 'Rhosymedre' Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Sinfonia of London, Sir John Barbirolli The Wasps Overture London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult Loch Lomond Ian Partridge (tenor) London Madrigal Singers, Christopher Bishop Ca' the Yowes Ian Partridge (tenor) London Madrigal Singers, Christopher Bishop Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus' Jacques Orchestra, Sir David Willcocks O Taste and See James Lancelot (organ) & Ivan Sharpe (treble) Winchester Cathedral Choir, Martin Neary Bushes and Briars Baccholian Singers of London Wassail Song Baccholian Singers of London For all the saints (Sine nomine) John Scott Whiteley (organ) York Minster Choir, Philip Moore The truth sent from above hoir of King’s College, Cambridge, David Willcocks Little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green) The Lamb Ian Partridge (tenor) & Janet Craxton (oboe) Scherzo from Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia antartica' London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult Orpheus With His Lute (first setting) David Daniels (countertenor) & Martin Katz (piano) Mass in G minor – Kyrie John Eaton (treble), Nigel Perrin (alto), Robin Doveton (tenor) & David van Asch (bass) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks The blessed Son of God Bach Choir, Sir David Willcocks Come down, O Love divine (trans. R. F. Littledale – v.4 arr. Williamson) Thomas Williamson (organ) The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune 'All people that on earth do dwell' (William Kethe – Louis Bourgeois arr. RVW; version for brass ensemble and organ by Roy Douglas) Benjamin Bayl (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury |
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| |  | Lyrita Classics
Balfe: | The Bohemian Girl : Galop Philharmonia Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite | Berners: | The Triumph of Neptune : Hornpipe London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite | Delius: | The Walk to the Paradise Garden London Philharmonic Orchestra, Myer Fredman The Immovable Do London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite | Elgar: | Dorabella (from Enigma Variations) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Andrew Davis Pomp and Circumstance March No. 5 in C major, Op. 39 No. 5 New Philharmonia Orchestra, Andrew Davis | Grainger: | Shepherd's Hey London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite | Harty: | An Irish Symphony : The Fair-Day New Philharmonia Orchestra, Vernon Handley | Holst: | St Paul's Suite, Op. 29 No. 2 English Chamber Orchestra, Imogen Holst | Vaughan Williams: | Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult | Warlock: | Capriol Suite London Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite |
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London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | listen: | | Watch video trailer |  |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Elgar: | Introduction & Allegro for strings, Op. 47 Allegri Quartet, Sinfonia of London, John Barbirolli Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 Sinfonia of London, John Barbirolli Elegy for strings, Op. 58 New Philharmonic Orchestra, John Barbirolli Sospiri, Op. 70 New Philharmonic Orchestra, John Barbirolli | Vaughan Williams: | Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Sinfonia of London, John Barbirolli Fantasia on Greensleeves Sinfonia of London, John Barbirolli |
Allegri String Quartet, Sinfonia of London & New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli “Unforgettable!” Penguin Guide | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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