BBC4 today The Lark Ascending.

[salymap]

On BBC 4 the film 'The Passions of Vaughan Williams' is preceded by a half hour programme that rather amused me.

Headed 'The Lark Ascending' it concentrates on the piece the BBC schedules have ruined for thousands. THEN in the 'Passions of' it tells us that RVW's musical range does, indeed, extend beyond his most famous piece. Blimey,I grew up with several pieces in the regular concert repertoire like Ov The Wasps, 5 variants etc, Folk Song Suite, not to mention the symphonies still appearing in those days.The Lark was just one work amongst many.

Who is responsible for the Lark's over-exposure? Answers on a postcard or text or email RW.

[Norfolk Born]

Classic FM and its Hall of Fame, surely. The piece has the, to CFM's mind, priceless advantage of matching the average attention span on which the station's schedules are based.

[Serial_Apologist]

In the age before The Lark Ascending was overexposed on CFM and now Radio 3 which presumably once existed, this to me still lovely piece was my choice of music to be played at my father's funeral. The presiding vicar was astonished when I gave my reasons; one of which was that I thought that it was a deeply spiritual piece of music; another being that some in the congregation that day familiar with the work might "read" the piece's opening passage as symbolic of the soul ascending to heaven; and yet another, that Vaughan Williams's music was one of the few things on which my dad and I were in agreement on any subject.

[Caliban]

In the age before The Lark Ascending was overexposed on CFM and now Radio 3 which presumably once existed, this to me still lovely piece was my choice of music to be played at my father's funeral. The presiding vicar was astonished when I gave my reasons; one of which was that I thought that it was a deeply spiritual piece of music; another being that some in the congregation that day familiar with the work might "read" the piece's opening passage as symbolic of the soul ascending to heaven; and yet another, that Vaughan Williams's music was one of the few things on which my dad and I were in agreement on any subject.

[Anna]

By a strange coincidence the Lark is now being played on In Tune! I have never thought of it is a suitable funeral tune, but it works very well I think in that context. I have a boxed set of RVW, Handley and RLPO, a present, never played it, but it's his symphonies, perhaps I should.

[salymap]

I'm sorry S-A, to you the piece has special significance and I respect that. However, many, including my self have a sinking of the heart feeling when certain much loved pieces are over scheduled. The off switch is the only solution it seems.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm sorry S-A, to you the piece has special significance and I respect that. However, many, including my self have a sinking of the heart feeling when certain much loved pieces are over scheduled. The off switch is the only solution it seems.

No need to apologise, saly! Remember, in 2001 The Lark was not overplayed to anything like the extent it is now; just to read that Anna has spotted it being broadcast right as we are writing about it is no surprise! I dare say if my own favourite pieces were to be played as often as is The Lark on Radio 3, CFM or anywhere, (Messiaen's Chronochromie, Schoenberg's String Trio, anyone???), I would feel the way you now do about this particular piece. But there again, I don't listen as much to R3 as I once did.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

By a strange coincidence the Lark is now being played on In Tune! I have never thought of it is a suitable funeral tune, but it works very well I think in that context. I have a boxed set of RVW, Handley and RLPO, a present, never played it, but it's his symphonies, perhaps I should.

I think you'll love it, Anna: Handley's RVW Symphony cycle is second to none - and it's a heavily contested field!

(By the way "Vaughan Williams": Welsh ancestry there, surely?)

[Anna]

I think you'll love it, Anna: Handley's RVW Symphony cycle is second to none - and it's a heavily contested field!

(By the way "Vaughan Williams": Welsh ancestry there, surely?)

Vaughan is indeed a Welsh surname, like Cardinal Vaughan, from one of the most famous recusant families of South Wales. All his sisters became Nuns. Oh, we are riddled with Priests Tunnels and Holes down by here, the most Catholic part of Wales there ever was. I just selected, random like, a RVW, turns out to be Flos Campi! Who she?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Flos Campi! Who she?

Flo was one of RVW's students at the RCM (Rhyl Confederacy of Miners) who was partial to deep-fried prawns in batter.