Suite for Viola and Orchestra (Vaughan Williams)

The Suite for Viola and Orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams is a work in eight movements for solo viola and orchestra composed in 1933 and 1934. The Suite is dedicated to violist Lionel Tertis, who premiered the work on November 12, 1934 at the Queen's Hall in London under the baton of Malcolm Sargent.^[1] A typical performance lasts about 23 minutes.

Form

The work consists of eight movements, initially published in three groups.

Group 1

1. Prelude
2. Carol
3. Christmas Dance

Group 2

1. Ballad
2. Moto Perpetuo

Group 3

1. Musette
2. Polka Melancolique
3. Galop

The work is scored for solo viola, 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, percussion, celesta, harp and strings.

Discography

Complete recordings

• Starer and Vaughan Williams – Melvin Berger (viola); John Snashall (conductor); English Chamber Orchestra (1965)
• Bloch and Vaughan Williams – William Gromko (viola); Harriet Wingreen (piano); Classic Editions CE 1038 (1960s)
• Bliss and Vaughan Williams – Emanuel Vardi (viola); Frank Weinstock (piano); Musical Heritage Society 4043 (1979)
• Vaughan Williams – Frederick Riddle (viola); Norman Del Mar (conductor); Bournemouth Sinfonietta; recorded in 1977; Chandos Records CHAN 241-9 (1999)
• The Elegant Viola – Yizhak Schotten (viola); Kirk Trevor (conductor); Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Crystal Records CD837 (2005)
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi, Suite • McEwen: Viola Concerto – Lawrence Power (viola); Martyn Brabbins (conductor); BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales; Hyperion Records CDA67839 (2011)

Partial recordings

• Walton, Vaughan Williams, Howells & Bowen (Nos. 1–3) – Helen Callus (viola); Marc Taddei (conductor); New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Asv CDDCA 1181 (2006)

References

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Opera	Hugh the Drover Sir John in Love The Poisoned Kiss Riders to the Sea The Pilgrim's Progress
Ballet	Job: A Masque for Dancing
Orchestral works	A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1) A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2) A Pastoral Symphony (Symphony No. 3) Symphony No. 4 in F minor Symphony No. 5 in D major Symphony No. 6 in E minor Sinfonia antartica (Symphony No. 7) Symphony No. 8 in D minor Symphony No. 9 in E minor In the Fen Country Norfolk Rhapsodies Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus Concerto Grosso
Concertante	The Lark Ascending Flos Campi Piano Concerto Suite for Viola and Orchestra Oboe Concerto Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra Tuba Concerto
Chamber music	Romance for viola and piano Six Studies in English Folk Song
Choral music	A Cambridge Mass Five Mystical Songs Fantasia on Christmas Carols Mass in G minor Sancta Civitas Magnificat Dona nobis pacem Serenade to Music An Oxford Elegy Three Shakespeare Songs Hodie
Vocal music	"Whither Must I Wander" Songs of Travel On Wenlock Edge Four Hymns Ten Blake Songs Four Last Songs
Incidental music	The Wasps
Film scores	49th Parallel (1940 drama film) Coastal Command (1942 film) The Flemish Farm (1943 war film) Stricken Peninsula (1945 propaganda film) The Loves of Joanna Godden (1946 historical drama film) Scott of the Antarctic (1948 film) Bitter Springs (1950 film) The England of Elizabeth (1955 documentary)
Other compositions	English Folk Song Suite Sea Songs
Named for Vaughan Williams	Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
Related articles	City of Bath Bach Choir Curse of the ninth English Folk Dance and Song Society English Hymnal Oxford Book of Carols Society for the Promotion of New Music Songs of Praise
List of compositions by Ralph Vaughan Williams Category:Compositions by Ralph Vaughan Williams