The Lark Ascending Premiere
Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending was first performed, in a version for violin and piano, at Shirehampton Public Hall on 15th December 1920. This page gives details of that concert, based on the original programme, which is held in the Philip Napier Miles Archive in Bristol University Library.
Click the links on the transcript of the programme below to find out more…
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[sg_popup id=7086]AVONMOUTH & SHIREHAMPTON
CHORAL SOCIETY[/sg_popup]
[sg_popup id=7088]Wednesday, December 15th, 1920[/sg_popup]
GRAND CONCERT
IN THE
[sg_popup id=7090]Public Hall, Shirehampton[/sg_popup]
ARTISTS:
[sg_popup id=7092]Miss MARIE HALL[/sg_popup]
[sg_popup id=7096]Miss G. FFRANGCON DAVIS[/sg_popup]
[sg_popup id=7097]Rev. Dr. E. H. FELLOWES[/sg_popup]
[sg_popup id=7098]Mr. GILBERT J. BAILEY[/sg_popup]
Conductor: [sg_popup id=7099]Mr. P. NAPIER MILES[/sg_popup]
Choir Master: [sg_popup id=7100]Mr. W. POWELL[/sg_popup]
Accompanist: [sg_popup id=7101]Mr. G. MENDHAM[/sg_popup]
Doors Open at 7 p.m.
Commence at 7.50.
[sg_popup id=7102]Price 4d[/sg_popup]
[sg_popup id=7103]TAYLOR & JAMES, AVONMOUTH[/sg_popup]
PROGRAMME
1. [sg_popup id=7107]FANTASIA ON CHRISTMAS CAROLS[/sg_popup]: [sg_popup id=7105]R. Vaughan Williams[/sg_popup]
Mr. GILBERT J. BAILEY & THE CHORAL SOCIETY
Violoncello Obligato: [sg_popup id=7108]Miss HELEN JUST[/sg_popup]
2. [sg_popup id=7109]VIOLIN SOLO “The Lark Ascending”[/sg_popup]: R. Vaughan Williams
FIRST PERFORMANCE
Romance for Violin and Orchestra.
Miss MARIE HALL
[sg_popup id=7110]“He rises and begins to round,
He drops the silver chain of sound
Of many links without a break,
In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake.
For singing till his Heaven fills,
‘Tis love of earth that he instils,
And ever winging up and up
Our valley is his golden cup,
And he the wine which overflows
To lift us with him as he goes,
Till lost on his aerial rings
In light, and then the fancy sings.”
George Meredith.[/sg_popup]
The accompaniment for this work is scored for strings, woodwind, and two horns. The pianoforte version has been made by the Composer himself, who has very kindly given permission for the work to be performed without Orchestra on this occasion.
3. SONGS
(a) [sg_popup id=7111]“O Death Rock me Asleep”[/sg_popup]: Ascribed to Ann Boleyn, 1536, ed. Dolmetsch
(b) [sg_popup id=7112]“Come Again”[/sg_popup]: Dowland 1597, ed. Fellowes
(c) [sg_popup id=7113]“Phyllis was a Faire Maid”[/sg_popup]: Giles Earles, 1615, ed. Keel
(d) [sg_popup id=7114]“Virgins are like the Fair Flowers”[/sg_popup]: Purcell, arranged by F. Austin
(e) [sg_popup id=7115]“Names”[/sg_popup]: P. Napier Miles
Miss G. FFRANGCON DAVIS
4. [sg_popup id=7117]CONCERTO FOR TWO VIOLINS: Bach[/sg_popup]
(a) Vivace
(b) Largo, Ma Non Tanto
(c) Allegro
Miss MARIE HALL & Rev. Dr. E. H. FELLOWES.
5. [sg_popup id=7119]ODE ON ST. CECILIA’S DAY: C. Hubert H. Parry[/sg_popup]
Miss G. FFRANGCON DAVIS, Mr. GILBERT J. BAILEY, & THE CHORAL SOCIETY.
6. [sg_popup id=7120]CHORAL SONG “Jerusalem”: C. Hubert H. Parry[/sg_popup]
THE CHORAL SOCIETY.
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic Mills.
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.
