The Slipped Disc daily comfort zone (85): And his cat

The Slipped Disc daily comfort zone (85): And his cat

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norman lebrecht

June 08, 2020

I yield to none in my love for Vaughan Williams. And his cat.

Comments

  • Harold Stover says:

    The cat’s name was Foxy.

  • Bruce says:

    Well that was lovely. Thank you.

  • E. says:

    This is marvelous. Thank you.

  • Ross Amico says:

    RVW… and Foxy!!

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Oh, Norman…. I never expected you to yield to me! My, my…. I’m all a-flutter!
    Seriously now: I love RVW as much as you do.
    I consider his Serenade to Music to be one of those rare works which truly refresh the soul.
    And the Tallis Fantasia? Sublime.
    He is one of the greatest of English composers.
    Thank you for posting this lovely music!
    (I hate to bring this up, but I’m allergic to cats. It’s very interesting: the beasts seem to like me – and I AM an animal lover – and they jump up on my lap and nuzzle me, but I just start to sneeze and drip. They’re OK with that. Go figure….)

  • Adam Stern says:

    Okay, then…but we’re at least tied.

  • Fiddlist says:

    What about Lilburn?

  • O Norman! Let Beauty Awake and Sir Thomas….
    You got me! There is nothing more beautiful in the world

    https://basiaconfuoco.com/2018/09/18/sir-thomas-allen/

  • christopher storey says:

    I love the cat ; the music’s not bad, either !

  • Petros Linardos says:

    Gorgeous. Forgive my ignorance: what is the connection with the composer’s dignified cat?

  • Karl says:

    My two favorite things are classical music and cat videos.

  • Edgar Self says:

    I don’t know the connexion, Petros, but I’m all for it, and so is T. S. Eliot Good job, Greg Bottini!

    . “Home no more home for me, whither must I wander”, and the tramp, tramp, tramp of the first song … and grand affirmation of the last, “Bright is the ring of the words.. when the right man sings them.” I quote badly from memory.

    Another unforgettable RVW song is the exquisite “Linden Lea”, with its homely pragmatic philosophy, indelible from the unique and equally unforgettable Heddle Nash, “the best bloody Messiah in England.” Sound an alarm! Also Gerontius.

    The “Songs of Travel” are outstanding even for R. L. Stevenson and Vaughan Williams. Gerald Finley and Roderick Williams also have xxcellent records of them. It’s impossible to choose, so I take them all. They are popular even with Lieder singers in Germany.

    Stevenson’s “Requiem” is nearly too fine for words. Has anyone set it to music?

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