London's Sights and Sounds Set Into Music

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 29, 30 December 1938, Page 26

London's Sights and Sounds Set Into Music

symphony Recalls Pre-War City

{USICAL impression of pre-war London perhaps best describes Vaughan Williams’s "London" Symphony, but it is equally descriptive of the great city as it is today; for, althoush a few of the recognised sounds of the London streets make their way into the music, it is with the spirit of the city and its citizens that the composer has dealt, and the resultant music is that of a poet of sympathy and understanding, London has inspired music of every order from music-hall ditties to symphonics. in our time, two of the best things we owe to it-Elgar’s "Cockaigne" Overture and this symphony, are by West Country men, musicians who are English in spirit rather than townsmen. And yet Vaughan Williams has told us himself that a better title for his work, "would perhaps be ‘Symphony yy a Londoner,’ that is to say, the life of London (including possibly its various sights and scunuds) has suggested to the composer an attempt at musical expression, but it would be no help to the hearer to describe these in words." Such a description was given, however, by the composer’s friend, George Butterworth, in the programme at the first performance. It pointed to some of the "various sights and sounds which make their way into the music-the chimes of Westminster, a lavyenderseller's call, the tinkle of the bells which used to be carried by the horses of the rub er-tyred hansoms and a hint of street music, like a mouth-organ’s." -That was in the spring of 1914, and it was not played again till Adrian Boult and the London Symphony Orchestra gave it in 1918. In the meantime, Vaughan Williams, though past the age at which service could be demanded of him, had served in Macedonia and on the Western front, in the RA.M.C., and as a gunner officer, George Butterworth was killed in the battle of the Somme on August 5, 1916, one of the many promising musicians on

both sides whose careers were so tragically cut off, Comradeship in arms of Vaughan Williams and Butterworth is comMemorated by the dedication of the symphony, in its published form (under the Carnegie Trust’s Scheme) to Butterworth. In that form-consideraply shortened and revised from the original designthe symphony has been played at many concerts in England and abroad. : In 1920, the British Music Society, which had just been iormed, chose it as the chief Haglish work to bring forward at iis first annual congress; Albert Coates conducted a fine performance oi tt. Sir Henry Wood, too, has conduced this sympaony poth in London and at various places . In Paris the work Was received With great acclamation in 1829, and at the conclusion of that particular concert Leopold Stokowsii went forward and embraced Sir Henry Wood (a fellow Londoner) and said, ‘I'his is the man who has taught me everything." Stekowski was a most regular Prom "fan" in. his young days. t 4YA listeners will hear "A London Symphony" by Vaughan Williams piayed by the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, under Sir Henry Wood, on Thursday, January 5.