Let Us Avoid Politics

 

That is a tough one considering the places pictured on this cover.

But we are talking about Vaughan Williams' 'complete' score to the 1941 film 49th Parallel.

Having heard Martin Yates cover the score to the composer's Scott of the Antarctic as well, I think I like this one more.

Yet, they are both very fine scores worth checking out. Between the two, there is a whole lot of Vaughan Williams orchestral music to hear, with over 80 minutes on this recording alone.

A review from 2023

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ first film score, 49th Parallel, is a strong one; dare I say, I might like it more than Scott of the Antarctic, also found completed on Dutton. But it is a draw of excellences either way, since both contain a goodly amount of persuasive orchestral film-score music.

The strongest aspect of this score is its main title (concluding the prelude as well) and closing theme; one of high Romance that RVW later turned into music for chorus and pipe organ. It puts legitimacy on this music as both effective for the cinema and as a standalone work.

The rest are musical set pieces, some used in the film, and some left out. There is a lot of effective orchestral color, and even if the music underscores action, RVW’s use of instruments and rhythms always rises above redundancy. The waltz, café jazz, and German folksong are standout contributions which sound rather un-Vaughan Williams, and are most interesting to hear.

At 81 minutes, this is a full menu of listening too. The Dutton SACD sound is spectacular and the playing of the BBC Concert Orchestra is splendid. Martin Yates is a dedicated Vaughan Williams enthusiast, and his advocacy is on full display with this recording. If one only wanted the bits and bobs from 49th Parallel instead, Rumon Gamba leads 40 minutes of music on Chandos, and the Prelude has been oft recorded.

Who wouldn’t want it all though?

 

 

 

 

 

Work
49th Parallel

Ensembles
BBC Concert Orchestra
Martin Yates, conductor

Label: Dutton Epoch
Year: 2023
Timing: 81.01

 

 

 

You don't even really have to like film music to enjoy this. Vaughan Williams was a master craftsman with an orchestra, and that is fully on display here.

Plus the unflagging advocacy of Martin Yates, who digs up every last page of unearthed Vaughan Williams scores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hear the Score HERE!