Film Score: The 49th Parallel by Vaughan Williams

[@robhaynes4410]

Can we give a special shout-out to Martin Yates? He's done more to bring us performable versions of works by British composers than anyone I can think of, & nearly all of it absolutely excellent. 49th Parallel is no exception.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Agreed, but you could also mention Vernon Handley, Nicholas Braithwaite, David Lloyd-Jones, Byrdon Thomson and of course Adrian Boult,

[@robhaynes4410]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Sure, & another half dozen conductors, too, all of whom are essential. I was singling out Yates because of what I called "performable versions." If you look at his discography, it's full of forgotten/neglected works that he's orchestrated, conpletedy, edited, reconstructed, etc., & we would otherwise never hear. No other conductor has done that, at least not even remotely to the same extent, as has Martin Yates.

[@Lt.GonvilleBromhead]

Sir, you are costing me a fortune! I keep discovering music I'd never heard of through your channel. I now own this album and the DVD of the film.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Enjoy!

[@mikezinn7212]

Just received this. It's fabulous! Thank you.

[@fred6904]

Hello Dave! You are right, this is an absolutely fantastic release !!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎶🙆‍♂️💕👏🎉🏅 Best wishes Fred from Kristianstad

[@erikdaumann8589]

Oh what a pity! Here in Germany it will be released in June. I can't wait....... It is such an important film score. Without it RVW's 6th symphony would sound different. He incorporated unused material from this film score in the score of the symphony, I read elsewhere.

[@robertdandre94101]

very beautiful film shot in canada in the rocky mountains in alberta, the original music of the film was played by the london symphony orchestra conducted by muir matheson

[@bbailey7818]

An exciting film as well. Very good.

[@swimmad456]

I don't know who RVW's agent was but in the film's titles he got just about the largest billing with "Music by RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS". The prelude is wonderful and I look forward to hearing the rest of the score.

[@Bachsoboe]

I suggest everyone should explore the Dutton Epoch catalogue. Some real treasures on there, most not recorded anywhere else.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Very cool. The 49th Parallel was the first film on VHS I rented from a video store way back in 1983. I need to give this a listen.

[@rogermilne8563]

Not actually a BBC drama, the film was released in cinemas (BBC TV was closed down during WW2). Nominated for a Best Picture Oscar (and won for best original story) but even though there were 18 films nominated for best score this wasn't included. Max Steiner won for Now, Voyager. Another fabulous addition to the RVW discography from the enterprising Dutton Epoch label.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

I am trying to prune my collection but have just ordered it. This is the best RVW cd in years. It is excellent.

[@ThreadBomb]

I just want to point out that the formatting of the track listing on the back of the CD case is insane: [1] Main titles 3:41 [2] Prologue panorama 15:56 [3] The control room sends an alert 2:39 [4] Aircraft searching for the U-boat 5:20 [5] The U-boat in Hudson Bay 3:21 [6] Hudson's Bay Company trading post 2:40 [7] The Nazis loot the trading post 0:48 [8] The Nazis steal the floatplane 0:57 [9] Death of Kuhnecke 1:58 [10] Anna's Volkslied 3:43 etc. Why would they do this, instead of the more readable alternative?

[@ericnagamine7742]

The Germans in the film were escaped POWs, not raiders. They were trying to escape to the U.S. which was still neutral at the time.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Same difference. They were the bad guys.

[@mikezinn7212]

They were RAIDERS and not POWs. They came directly off their submarine which was then blown up!

[@hughpyper4231]

Must listen to this! By the way, Dave, only tangentially related, but have you come across the recent series of recordings on Toccata of William Wordsworth's symphonies? I've been most impressed by them, especially number 5, and would love to know what you think.

[@kylejohnson8877]

You didn’t ask me, but I was highly impressed by Wordsworth’s 4th Symphony on Toccata, a concise, single-movement work with a powerful central march-like section in 5/4 time. I should investigate more of his music!