Ralph Vaughan Williams - Piano Quintet in C Minor

[@christopherparker6232]

I was lucky enough to be at the Royal College of Music in London in 1999 when this piece was 'reheard' for the first time in many years. I was stunned at the time. A Brahmsian Romantic sound world looms large. This is the early Vaughan Williams before he became totally immersed in English folk song. He takes Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet instrumentation for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano rather than the more common two violins, viola, cello and piano formula and creates an early masterpiece.

[@ruramikael]

Yes, but harmonically so much more advanced than Brahms and VWs teacher Bruch, which I think deserves to be mentioned as an influence.

[@masantonio8790]

@@ruramikael Was this Quintet written before VW was taught by Ravel? It almost seems impressionist.

[@ruramikael]

@@masantonio8790 Yes, first peformed in 1905, so well before. Also listen to the Solent, which is even more impressionistic, also pre-Ravel.

[@klop4228]

​@@ruramikael I'm hearing more Elgar, especially with that second subject. Which makes sense, given their nationalities.

[@ruramikael]

@@klop4228 Elgar's music is more germanic than VW's, so that sort of makes sense. But more Elgar in the Sea Symphony.

[@masantonio8790]

VW's melodies are always so beautiful regardless of the overall mood, while maintaining a Romantic-esque, nearly impressionist soundscape. The moments of calm, like islands amidst the shimmering, shining sea of sound offer respite until the irresistible melodies take over again.

[@user-gy8zs3sv8y]

Waouuuu ! Quelle splendeur ! Une musique riche et généreuse. La richesse du contrepoint et des harmonies contrastent avec ces moments dépouillés si poignants... Une œuvre qui mériterait sa place au répertoire prestigieux des grands quintettes !

[@steveegallo3384]

Dense complex masterpiece....with echoes of Mahler's A-minor Piano Quartet ("Shutter Island" film)....BRAVI TUTTI!

[@Dr.Z568]

I think Vaughan Williams tried to express happines, sadness, anger and love in this masterpiece, it's perfect

[@markleneker9923]

Wonderful, glad I stumbled onto this video.

[@lucamadeus]

Hauntingly beautiful, a masterpiece

[@steveegallo3384]

lucamadeus -- True....my first hearing.....Huuuuuge. BRAVO from San Agustinillo, Oaxaca !

[@derekcurtis9999]

Just heard this performed live and came to this recording to hear 6:26 again

[@ilanashapiroflute]

Incredible

[@LucasHagemans]

1:04 Bb minor -> Db major -> D major. Similar harmonic vibe to Sea Symphony, the modulations towards the lines "Sea the steamers coming and going, steaming in or out of port" C major -> C# major -> Bb major -> Ab major.

[@suzychiu8544]

2:06 12:17 5:52 19:40 var1 violin 20:28 var 2 cello 21:28 var3 piano 22:40 var4 23:10 var5 24:00 var6

[@ekaterinalekkas2356]

🎉

[@maxclavenna4495]

Really, really interesting ! Is it published? Could anyone, please, provide a reference about the editor ( I do not see any "watermark" at the bottom of the score). Thank You very much :-)

[@joymorin759]

Faber Music

[@maxclavenna4495]

@@joymorin759 Thank You very much !

[@huiminsau2681]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@therealtruetwelfth798]

Why are all three opening tempos (half note = 80, 88, & 100) all played at the same speed!? I don’t like it. Add to that, the advertisement for poop medication in the middle of the first movement, and I’m pretty much done. What a world we live in.

[@ronaldbwoodall2628]

The main interest in this early opus by RVW is the final set of variations; otherwise, it's not very original or interesting. I would have guessed it to be by a French composer, and not one of his best works either.

[@noiselesspatient]

Not very interesting? Perhaps you should stay in more... 😄 I think the way he solves the usual 1st mvt sonata form issues extremely skilful and inspiring, as a composer struggling with a quintet at the moment. French? Yes, there's Fauré there for sure, but just as much Brahms, Parry, Stanford (and all their influencers) and Bruch too, as has been pointed out above. But a real spark of originality too, especially of the England-rooted modality to come.

[@ronaldbwoodall2628]

@@noiselesspatient I can agree with all you say here; what I guess I was doing was comparing this early work to the Symphonies, the ballet "Job", and his chamber-music masterpiece, the Violin Sonata, and I admit that such comparisons are ultimately unfair.

[@jean-felixouellet3112]

Eat my Martinu