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Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 12:31 Once in a while I find a new piece of music that strikes right through to the heart of things and makes me wonder how I've not known about it for so long. That's happened recently with a piece by Vaughan Williams - which is surprising because I've loved so much of his music for so long. And yet somehow I have missed (gentle fanfare): The Phantasy Quintet I've commented from time to time on certain similarities between Mike Oldfield and Vaughan Williams. They both have roots in folk music, for a start. Also, they can both produce music that somehow encapsulates the feeling of English (perhaps I should say British?) landscape. Certainly I've always found it very easy to move from Hergest Ridge to a Vaughan Williams symphony, or his Tallis Fantasia. Anyway - as I say I've just 'discovered' the Phantasy Quintet. Do yourself a really big favour and get one - there's a brilliant version on the Naxos label, so you can pick one up very cheaply, and the performance is so very, very sensitive as to break your heart. You can get the CD in question on Amazon here. You can listen to extracts there, but they're hopelessly short and not adequate. The Phantasy quintet only lasts 15 minutes. But the 1st and 3rd movements in particular will carry you out and up onto the hills, with the grass whispering in the air, and the distant view promising something mystical in the offing. It's the perfect thing to listen to while you're waiting for Music of the Spheres. I find the two quartets also on the CD rather less accessible, but  it's early days, yet. And the CD is worth having for the quintet alone. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 12:49 Nice coincidence, I was listening to Vaughan Williams' 5th symphony just a few hours ago. As I've said before, I can definitely see where you're coming from with the comparison between him and Mike's early work. Back to top

Sweetpea Group: Members Posts: 1476 Joined: April 2007 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 15:46 Speaking of coincidence... Last May, I was intrigued by a discussion about Vaughan Williams in one of the Hergest Ridge threads. I'd even asked a friend to burn me some VW so I could check him out. Unfortunately, I think my friend forgot. When I rediscovered the thread, yesterday, I decided to take matters into my own hands. This morning, I went to my local Borders Books & Music. They had four or five choices in VW. Recalling Alan's recommendations from months ago, I narrowed it down to this one (Tallis Fantasia with 5th Symphony) and this one (Tallis Fantasia, Greensleeves Fantasia, etc.), and ended up with the latter - it was $2 less. So, Holger, I could have been listening to the 5th mere hours after you had. I suppose that would be a near-coincidence? This combined with Alan making this topic is enough to have me   . -------------- "I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 16:37 Well, I'm not a superstitious kind of person Holger and Sweetpea, but there is a touch of spookiness here! In particular, the third movement of this quintet - I can't explain the effect of it - so beautiful, so gentle, that my eyes fill with tears no matter how often I play it. I've been listening to it over and over, and for some reason it reminded me of a very dear friend that I've been out of touch with for too long. The music seems to make the connection - as if it comes from somewhere outside 'ordinary' living. This is the loveliest, most haunting thing I've ever heard by Vaughan Williams, and that is a big statement for me to make. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 16:51 Quote (Sweetpea @ Aug. 28 2007, 20:46) I narrowed it down to this one (Tallis Fantasia, Greensleeves Fantasia, etc I have that very CD myself, Sweetpea. I first heard the Tallis Fantasia when I was about sixteen years old, and it's been with me in one form or another ever since. There's nothing else like it in the whole of music, that I can discover, except possibly Elgar's 'Introduction and Allegro for Strings' which evokes a similar feeling of wild, high landscape, windblown grass, and distant skies - all combined with a strangely mystical sensation. Oh, and there's 'Hergest Ridge', of course! Back to top

maria Group: Members Posts: 928 Joined: July 2002 Posted: Aug. 28 2007, 17:55 I'm so moved now... I can't think of a better way to get back home today other than finding the third movement of VW's Phantasy quintet in my mailbox, such a lovely present.. thanks for everything, my friend... Listening to it while looking at the glowing sea under the full moon has been a fresh breeze, a caress for my soul. Yes, yes please, I want to hear more Silence is sometimes a necessary part of the music that weaves a true friendship. -------------- ...morning and evening i'm flying, i'm dreaming... Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Aug. 29 2007, 05:40 I imagine this should be a great collection (found it while browsing for the Tallis Fantasia). Remember Barbirolli is Mike's favourite conductor, and from what I've heard of him I'd definitely agree he's great. That CD is a bit too pricey for me at the moment though... Interesting with the coincidences btw! Back to top

moonchildhippy Group: Members Posts: 1807 Joined: Dec. 2004 Posted: Aug. 29 2007, 14:02 Thanks Alan for mentioning that "Phantasy Quintet", I'll have to look out for it when I've some money to spare. That brings me onto my next question , why is it so difficult to find work   , perhaps something tells me I shouldn't be looking for work in these parts, but looking in Warwickshire instead, as that's where the Love of My Life lives, but then it's the cost of moving up there. -------------- I'm going slightly mad, It finally happened, I'm slightly mad , just very slightly mad If you feel a little glum to Hergest Ridge you should come. I'm challenging  taboos surrounding mental health "Part time hippy" I'M SUPPORTING OUR SOLDIERS BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!! Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Aug. 29 2007, 15:38 Quote (Holger @ Aug. 29 2007, 10:40) I imagine this should be a great collection I bet you're right. The recording he made with Jacqueline du Pre of Elgar's Cello Concerto is incredible - one of those performances that is so fine that you can't imagine it ever being surpassed. Your mention of the Vaughan Williams 5th Symphony prompted me to listen to that again today, Holger. Wonderful stuff, and thanks for the nudge. I also listened to the Thomas Tallis, and it was really interesting to see how sombre it seems after listening to the Phantasy Quintet. The Tallis is deeply serious all the way through; whereas there are bits of humour in the quintet - particularly in the last movement where, just a few bars in, he introduces a folk tune (well, it probably isn't, but it feels like a traditional tune) and it's so typical of VW to do that, and it's so typical of Mike Oldfield, also! The music almost wears a little grin at such moments. That lovely mix of solemn-ness and light humour in perfect balance is something that I associate with both of them. [@Sweetpea] - VW does the same trick in the Norfolk Rhapsody - not so attractively, nor so melodically I think - but there is a moment when suddenly this rather jolly tune emerges, as if to remind us that throughout history, even in the most serious times, people still dance. Or something like that. Back to top

Sweetpea Group: Members Posts: 1476 Joined: April 2007 Posted: Aug. 29 2007, 21:03 Quote (Alan D @ Aug. 29 2007, 15:38) there is a moment when suddenly this rather jolly tune emerges, as if to remind us that throughout history, even in the most serious times, people still dance. Or something like that. I like that description. I quite like "Norfolk Rhapsody" along with the Tallis piece and the "Concerto Grosso". -------------- "I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty Back to top

Baggiesfaninessex Group: Members Posts: 682 Joined: Mar. 2002 Posted: Sep. 17 2007, 15:16 I'll look out for this one Alan. The Tallis Fantasia and Lark are too of my favourite pieces of music, so I look forward to hearing Phantasy for the first time. -------------- “A dog is not intelligent. Never trust an animal that's surprised by its own farts.” - Frank Skinner Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Sep. 17 2007, 16:08 Quote (Baggiesfaninessex @ Sep. 17 2007, 20:16) I'll look out for this one Alan. The Tallis Fantasia and Lark are too of my favourite pieces of music, so I look forward to hearing Phantasy for the first time. I'm as certain that you'll love it as I am that the sun will rise tomorrow. Back to top

Baggiesfaninessex Group: Members Posts: 682 Joined: Mar. 2002 Posted: Oct. 19 2007, 22:23 ..and you were so right, as I knew you you would be. It's perfect. A mixture of Larks and Folk Songs; Tallis and Wasps. Beautiful. Thank you. -------------- “A dog is not intelligent. Never trust an animal that's surprised by its own farts.” - Frank Skinner Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Oct. 20 2007, 04:31 Quote (Baggiesfaninessex @ Oct. 20 2007, 03:23) It's perfect. I'm glad to hear it lived up to expectations. (I'm aware that I set it up on a pretty high pedestal! ) Good thought. I'll play it again this morning! Back to top

captainjjb Group: Members Posts: 310 Joined: Feb. 2006 Posted: Oct. 21 2007, 03:12 I would recommend 2nd movement of the London Symphony and also Studies in English Folksong, which are a set of short pieces for piano and soloist (usually Clarinet) which are particularly beautiful.  You do have to be careful though as the Sea Symphony is far more bombastic (check out the opening, wow) and certainly not to my taste. Back to top

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