The Story of a Flemish Farm
Encyclopedia
The Story of a Flemish Farm is an orchestral suite by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams
, written as the score for the 1943 film The Flemish Farm
- a wartime drama set in occupied Europe, and written when Vaughan Williams was 70.
The score comprises seven movements, which follow the flow of the story:
The music takes themes from a number of folk tunes, along with references to his 1st Symphony of 1909 and 6th Symphony
, which followed in 1947.
Vaughan Williams conducted the suite himself at a Promenade concert in July 1945. Christopher Thomas, writing in a record review, commented: "The bold strength of the melodic writing is highly idiomatic and reflects VW at the height of his creative powers shortly before the works that were to form the symphonic "Indian Summer" of his later years."
The film score was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
, conducted by Muir Mathieson
and the suite has also been recorded by the RTE Concert Orchestra
under Andrew Penny
, and by the BBC Philharmonic
under Rumon Gamba
.
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...
, written as the score for the 1943 film The Flemish Farm
The Flemish Farm (film)
The Flemish Farm is a 1943 British war film, based on an actual war-time incident. Released during the war, and used as a propaganda tool to support the allied war effort, the film begins with the caption:...
- a wartime drama set in occupied Europe, and written when Vaughan Williams was 70.
The score comprises seven movements, which follow the flow of the story:
- The Flag Flutters In The Wind.
- Night By The Sea, Farewell To The Flag.
- Dawn In The Old Barn, The Parting Of The Lovers.
- In The Café.
- The Major Goes To Face His Fate.
- The Dead Man's Kit.
- The Wanderings Of The Flag.
The music takes themes from a number of folk tunes, along with references to his 1st Symphony of 1909 and 6th Symphony
Symphony No. 6 (Vaughan Williams)
Ralph Vaughan Williams's Symphony in E minor, published as Symphony No. 6, was composed in 1946–47, during and immediately after World War II. Dedicated to Michael Mullinar, it was first performed by Sir Adrian Boult and the BBC Symphony Orchestra on April 21, 1948. Within a year it had received...
, which followed in 1947.
Vaughan Williams conducted the suite himself at a Promenade concert in July 1945. Christopher Thomas, writing in a record review, commented: "The bold strength of the melodic writing is highly idiomatic and reflects VW at the height of his creative powers shortly before the works that were to form the symphonic "Indian Summer" of his later years."
The film score was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, conducted by Muir Mathieson
Muir Mathieson
James Muir Mathieson was a Scottish conductor and composer. Mathieson was almost always described as a "Musical Director" on a large number of British films.-Career:...
and the suite has also been recorded by the RTE Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
under Andrew Penny
Andrew Penny
Andrew Penny is a conductor born in Hull. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music following clarinet studies with Sydney Fell. As a postgraduate he was the first holder of the Rothschild Scholarship in Conducting, studying with Sir Charles Groves and Timothy Reynish...
, and by the BBC Philharmonic
BBC Philharmonic
The BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra based at Media City UK, Salford, England. It is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall....
under Rumon Gamba
Rumon Gamba
Rumon Gamba , is an English conductor. He studied music at Durham University, and then went to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied conducting with Colin Metters, George Hurst and Sir Colin Davis. He became the first conducting student to obtain the DipRAM...
.