Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony - BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, Martyn Brabbins

A Sea Symphony 'Symphony No 1'[67'40]
with Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), Elizabeth Llewellyn (soprano)
1
A song for all seas, all ships (Moderato maestoso) Behold, the sea itself[19'19]
2
On the beach at night alone (Largo sostenuto)[11'09]
3
Scherzo: The waves (Allegro brillante) After the sea-ship, after the whistling winds[7'54]
4
The explorers (Grave e molto adagio – Andante con moto) O vast Rondure, swimming in space[29'18]
5
Darest thou now, O soul[3'12]

One of the mightiest of first symphonies, Vaughan Williams’s setting of Walt Whitman creates a very special sense of occasion. The coupling is more Whitman: RVW’s later, virtually unknown Darest thou now, O soul for chorus and strings.