A Sea Symphony

Album by Ralph Vaughan Williams & London Philharmonic Orchestra & Bernard Haitink

A Sea Symphony is the first symphony by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, premiered in 1910. Scored for full orchestra, chorus and soloists, it combines expansive Romantic orchestration with modal harmony and folk‑influenced melodic material in an extended vocal-symphonic form, and it marked an early milestone that influenced Vaughan Williams's subsequent orchestral and choral writing.
First released: 13th November 1989

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": Ia. A Song for All Seas, All Ships: Behold, the sea itself
    3:21
  2. 2.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": Ib. A Song for All Seas, All Ships: Today a rude brief recitative
    5:21
  3. 3.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": Ic. A Song for All Seas, All Ships: Flaunt out, O sea, your separate flags of nations!
    3:09
  4. 4.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": Id. A Song for All Seas, All Ships: Token of all brave captains
    4:48
  5. 5.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": Ie. A Song for All Seas, All Ships: A pennant universal
    4:08
  6. 6.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IIa. On the Beach at Night, Alone: On the beach at night, alone
    3:52
  7. 7.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IIb. On the Beach at Night, Alone: A vast similitude interlocks all
    8:12
  8. 8.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": III. Scherzo. The Waves
    7:57
  9. 9.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVa. The Explorers: O vast Rondure, swimming in space
    4:17
  10. 10.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVb. The Explorers: Down from the gardens of Asia descending
    7:32
  11. 11.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVc. The Explorers: O we can wait no longer
    5:53
  12. 12.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVd. The Explorers: O thou transcendent
    3:47
  13. 13.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVe. The Explorers: Greater than stars or suns
    1:36
  14. 14.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVf. The Explorers: Sail forth
    3:07
  15. 15.
    Symphony No. 1, "A Sea Symphony": IVg. The Explorers: O my brave Soul!
    4:04

Credits