Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony'

This page lists all recordings of Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony', 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’ third symphony is not ‘pastoral’ in the same sense as Beethoven’s Sixth; it is instead an encapsulation of his experiences in the First World War, when he served in the ambulance unit.

However the work is not full of military marches and martial drums, but instead looks beyond the war to a more contemplative and transcendent kind of elegy.

The emotional core of the symphony is its third movement, the climax of which, according to Michael Kennedy, seems to represent the composer’s reaction to the loss of his friends before and during the war.

The last movement begins and ends with a wordless song by a solo soprano, leading the music up to an other-worldly plane.

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All recordings

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Vaughan Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 (premiere recording, completed by Stephen Hogger) Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' The Running Set Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 Rebecca Evans (soprano) London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox Building a Library First Choice - May 2005 Chandos - CHAN10001 (CD) £12.99 (£11.06 ex. VAT) In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 Premiere Recording Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Rebecca Evans (soprano) The Running Set Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox Format: Hybrid Multi-channel Tell me more Chandos - CHSA5002 (SACD) £13.49 (£11.48 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Symphony No. 4 in F minor Symphony No. 5 in D major Symphony No. 6 in E minor André Previn RCA - 74321886802 (CD - 2 discs) £10.99 (£9.35 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Oboe Concerto in A minor Yvonne Kenny (soprano), David Theodore (oboe), London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson Chandos - CHAN8594 (CD) £12.99 (£11.06 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Symphony No. 4 in F minor English Folk Song Suite Alison Barlow Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley Building a Library Budget Choice - May 2005 30% off over 600 EMI discs! Click here for full details EMI Classics for Pleasure - 5753102 (CD) Normally: £5.99 (£5.10 ex. VAT) Special: £4.19 (£3.57 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult 30% off over 600 EMI discs! Click here for full details EMI British Composers - 7640182 (CD) Normally: £5.99 (£5.10 ex. VAT) Special: £4.19 (£3.57 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days.

Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6 Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Symphony No. 6 in E minor Brendan O'Brien (violin) & Patricia Rozario (soprano) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels "Kees Bakels's tranquil Pastoral (No. 3) has beautifully sustained tension and brings lovely playing from soloists in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra" Classic CD Naxos - 8550733 (CD) £4.99 (£4.25 ex. VAT) Usually despatched in 2 - 3 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) Warner Classics - 2564698483 (CD - 6 discs) £22.99 (£19.57 ex. VAT) In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.