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PRESIDENT: SIR ANDREW DAVIS CBE

O for a Muse of Fire…

Vaughan Williams’s incidental music to King Henry V and King Richard II.

Vaughan Williams responded to the compassion, the insight, the humour and the nobility of Shakespeare. He also recognised that Shakespeare was thoroughly musical, a writer who thought deeply about music. Vaughan Williams took Shakespeare’s many references to English folk-ballads as supporting his own ‘national’ approach to music: ‘Shakespeare makes an international appeal for the very reason that he is so national and English in his outlook’ he wrote in December, 1944.

O for a Muse of Fire…
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TRACK LISTING AND ARTISTS
Agincourt Carol

KING HENRY V

  • Chorus ‘O for a muse of fire…’
  • Allegro
  • Pistol: ‘Nym, thou has spoke the right’
  • Allegro alla marcia
  • Henry: ‘Now, lords, for France…’
  • Trumpet call; Adagio
  • Dauphin: ‘Well, ’tis not so….’; ‘Good my sovereign..’
  • France (check): ‘Tomorrow…at full’
  • Adagio molto
  • Boy: ‘As duly…’; Fluellen: ‘Captain MacMorris…’
  • Allegro; Henry: ‘Once more unto the breach…’; Allegro alla marcia
  • Fluellen: ‘There is an ancient…’; Allegro alla marcia
  • Henry: ‘We would have…’; Allegro alla marcia
  • Dauphin: ‘Will it…’; Allegro moderato (with chorus)
  • Molto adagio (with chorus)
  • Henry: ‘What’s he…’; ‘Take it, brave York…’
  • Alla marcia
  • Lento alla marcia
  • Chorus; Molto adagio
  • Pistol: ‘Doth fortune…’; Lento alla marcia
  • Henry: ‘Yet leave our cousin’; Trio; ‘Prepare we for marriage’
  • Adagio
KING RICHARD II

  • Fanfare’
  • Opening: Act I, Scene II
  • Andantino; Act II, Scene II
  • Moderato alla marcia 03.38
ARTISTS

Tim Pigott-Smith (Chorus)
Jeremy Franklin (Henry V and other speaking parts)
Andrew Henderson (Conductor)
Samuel Bridges (Herald Trumpet)
Andrew Henderson (Conductor)
Samuel Bridges (Herald Trumpet)

Production Credits and Thanks
Recorded at King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, from March 18 to 20, 2013 by Nick Fatkin and Michael Webb of Crystal Clear Audio.
Post-production and mastering engineer was Michael Webb. The recording has been supported and generously sponsored by Gavin Birkett. Albion Records is very grateful to both Michael and Gavin for their steadfast support to this recording project.

The Headmaster of King Edward VI School, Bennet Carr, would also like to warmly thank Andrew Henderson, Musical Director, Richard Pearson, School Archivist and Perry Mills, who directed the play for the centenary productions in March, 2013. Without their unwavering support the productions and this subsequent recording would not have been possible.

Finally, Albion Records and King Edward VI School would like to thank the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust for their generous grant to support the orchestr

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