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A journey to Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia

A playlist to illuminate Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia, travelling through the sound worlds of Mozart, Charles Ives, John Coltrane, and Grace Williams.

Ralph Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia, written for double string orchestra and string quartet, and based on a theme by the 16th century English composer Thomas Tallis, has been one of his most enduringly popular works since its premiere in Gloucester Cathedral in 1910.

In this sonic journey Sara Mohr-Pietsch maps the piece in a wider musical landscape exploring echoes, fantasies, multiple ensembles, modal harmonies and musical time travel. The playlist includes works by Mozart, Charles Ives, John Coltrane, Grace Williams, and Thomas Tallis himself, on route to the magical resonance of Vaughan Williams' haunting fantasia.

Producer: Ruth Thomson

3 days left to listen

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Apr 2024 13:30
BBC Radio 3

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A journey to Bach's Chaconne in D minor

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A journey to Schubert's Impromptu in C minor

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Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on Greensleeves

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Decca.

  • Henry Purcell

    Fantasia No 5 in 4 Parts

    Ensemble: Hespèrion XXI. Director: Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Fantasia in D minor K397

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Philips.

  • William Lawes

    6-Part Fantasy

    Performer: Phil Pierick. Performer: Adam Hawthorne. Performer: Ben Kenis. Music Arranger: Percy Grainger.
    • Naxos.

  • Grace Williams

    Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes

    Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Conductor: Andrew Penny.
    • Marco Polo.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Firebird

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Warner.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Why fum'th in fight (9 Psalm Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter)

    Ensemble: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah - Why do the Nations Rage?

    Singer: Samuel Ramey. Orchestra: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • EMI.

  • Samuel Barber

    String Quartet, Op. 11 ii) Molto adagio

    Ensemble: Ehnes Quartet.
    • Onyx.

  • John Coltrane

    After The Rain

    Performer: McCoy Tyner. Performer: Roy Haynes. Singer: John Coltrane.
    • Impulse!.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Valiant for Truth

    Choir: Tenebrae. Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Signum.

  • Charles Ives

    The Unanswered Question

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Sony.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Warner.

  • Franz Schubert

    4 Impromptus for piano; No.1 in C minor

    Performer: Maria João Pires.
    • DG.

Broadcast

  • Sun 28 Apr 2024 13:30
    BBC Radio 3