Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 9 in E minor

This page lists all recordings of Symphony No. 9 in E minor, 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.

Vaughan Williams’ ninth and final symphony was first performed in 1958, at a time when British music was reaching a new phase in its evolution.

This enigmatic symphony remains one of the final monuments of a particular age of composition, and is scored for large orchestra, including three saxophones and a flügel horn.

Originally the work had a programme attached to it, following Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles; notes on the sketches referred to “Wessex Prelude” and “Salisbury”, and two in the second movement are “Stonehenge” and “Tess”. This movement has since been shown to be a direct depiction of Tess’ arrest and execution; and the symphony as a whole ends ambiguously, with the final chords suggesting to some a bleak and cheerless ending and to others that “the light we sought is shining still”.

Recommendations

Penguin Guide

Rosette

Penguin Guide

Rosette

All recordings

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Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 5 in D major

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels

" Bakel's performances are extremely exciting…[they] are first rate in every way. " David Hurwitz, Classicstoday.com

Building a Library

Budget Choice - April 2003

Naxos - 8550738

(CD)

£4.99 (£4.25 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

Piano Concerto in C major

Howard Shelley (piano)

London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson

Chandos - CHAN8941

(CD)

£12.99 (£11.06 ex. VAT)

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 6 in E minor

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

Fantasia on Greensleeves

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley

30% off over 600 EMI discs!

Click here for full details

EMI Classics for Pleasure - 5753122

(CD)

Normally: £5.99 (£5.10 ex. VAT)

Special: £4.19 (£3.57 ex. VAT)

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days.

British Music Collection - Vaughan Williams Symphonies

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia antartica'

Margaret Ritchie (soprano), John Gielgud (speaker), London Philharmonic Choir

Symphony No. 4 in F minor

Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'

Isobel Baillie (soprano), John Cameron (baritone), London Philharmonic Choir

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony'

Margaret Ritchie (soprano)

Symphony No. 5 in D major

Symphony No. 6 in E minor

Symphony No. 8 in D minor

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Adrian Boult

(some symphonies recorded in mono)

Penguin Guide

Rosette Winner

Building a Library

Historic Choice - May 2005

Decca British Music Collection - 4732412

(CD - 5 discs)

£28.49 (£24.25 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams: Complete Symphonies

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'

for soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

Symphony No. 8 in D minor

Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony'

Symphony No. 4 in F minor

Symphony No. 5 in D major

Symphony No. 6 in E minor

Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia antartica'

Symphony No. 9 in E minor

Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Catherine Bott (soprano), Brian Rayner Cook (baritone), Roderick Elms (organ)

London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson

Building a Library

Mid-Price Choice - April 2003

Chandos - CHAN9087

(CD - 5 discs)

£53.99 (£45.95 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams - The Symphonies

Vaughan Williams:

Symphonies Nos. 1-9

Amanda Roocroft (soprano) & Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Patricia Rozario (soprano)

BBC Symphony Chorus

Job - A Masque for Dancing

Glen Martin (saxophone)

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

The Lark Ascending

Tasmin Little (violin)

The Wasps Overture

BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis

This 6-CD set brings together the acclaimed Vaughan Williams recordings from Teldec’s British Line and includes as a bonus two works (The Wasps and Fantasia on Greensleeves) which were not included in the original release. Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are considered to be interpreters par excellence of this quintessentially British repertoire.

“Davis has the key to this symphony’s combination of mystery, menace and qualified optimism.” (Sunday Telegraph on Job – A Masque for Dancing)