The Lark Ascending for Violin and Orchestra [Alf:36-A933448]

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), ever fond of poetry, found creative impetus for his beautiful romance The Lark Ascending, IRV 38, in an 1881 poem by George Meredith. Marie Pauline Hall, to whom the work was dedicated, gave the first performance of the original violin and piano version at Shirehampton Public Hall on December 15, 1920, beside pianist Geoffrey Mendham. Later Vaughan Williams expanded the work for full orchestra and it was again premiered by Hall on June 14, 1921. This has become the version most familiar to listeners. The violin, lifting its silvery tones above the stage, captures the soaring nature of Meredith's couplet: "Till lost on his aerial rings/In light, and then the fancy sings." This version can be played by full orchestra or chamber orchestra by reducing the winds to one per part. Instrumentation: Solo Vn: 2.1.2.2: 2.0.0.0: Perc(1): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set). Reprint edition with transposed clarinet parts also included. The violin and piano reduction is available from LudwigMasters (60710008).