Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
Encyclopedia
Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E Minor (1906, rev. 1914) is an orchestral rhapsody
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
based on folk songs he had collected in the English county of Norfolk
, in particular in the port town of King's Lynn
and the surrounding region. It is one of a set of three orchestral rhapsodies of 1905–06 based on Norfolk folk songs; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 in D minor still exists in a fragmentary form and has been reconstructed by Stephen Hogger, but the third Norfolk Rhapsody is lost.
Michael Kennedy
suggests that Vaughan Williams originally intended the three works to be performed together as a "Norfolk Symphony", although notes that this never occurred. Rhapsody No. 1 was premiered in London in August 1906 conducted by Henry Wood
and was later substantially revised for a performance in Bournemouth in May 1914; the second and third rhapsodies were first performed together under the composer's baton at the Cardiff Festival in September 1907 and later in London in April 1912 but were then withdrawn.
Rhapsody (music)
A rhapsody in music is a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations...
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
based on folk songs he had collected in the English county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, in particular in the port town of King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
and the surrounding region. It is one of a set of three orchestral rhapsodies of 1905–06 based on Norfolk folk songs; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 in D minor still exists in a fragmentary form and has been reconstructed by Stephen Hogger, but the third Norfolk Rhapsody is lost.
Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy , was the sixth of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy.-Education:...
suggests that Vaughan Williams originally intended the three works to be performed together as a "Norfolk Symphony", although notes that this never occurred. Rhapsody No. 1 was premiered in London in August 1906 conducted by Henry Wood
Henry Wood
Henry Wood was a British conductor.Henry Wood may also refer to:* Henry C. Wood , American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient* Henry Wood , English cricketer...
and was later substantially revised for a performance in Bournemouth in May 1914; the second and third rhapsodies were first performed together under the composer's baton at the Cardiff Festival in September 1907 and later in London in April 1912 but were then withdrawn.