Ralph Vaughan Williams - Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus

Based on a 16th century English folk-tune, what noble music RVW gave us all here in this piece, scored for harp (preferably two) and string orchestra. I was astounded by its beauty upon first hearing, and still am. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (also called the Dives and Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives) is a well-known parable of Jesus appearing in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 16:19–31).

Vaughan Williams' music has been described as: "showing patriotism for England in the subtlest form, engendered by a feeling for ancient landscapes and a person's small yet not entirely insignificant place within them".

"If that Englishness in music can be encapsulated in words at all, those words would probably be: ostensibly familiar and commonplace, yet deep and mystical as well as lyrical, melodic, melancholic, and nostalgic yet timeless" - Peter Ackroyd, from his book "Albion".

I took these pictures of various parts of Derbyshire's Peak District, England, last year. At 6:25 the isolated, flat-topped hill is Thorpe Cloud, lying between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam at the southern end of Dovedale. It's hard to imagine that this reef knoll was formed when this part of Derbyshire was located near the Equator, when Thorpe Cloud was most likely an attol in a warm coral sea.

A wonderfully excellent performance here:

Jacques Orchestra
Conductor: Sir David Willcocks
An EMI Recording

[shin-i-chikozima]

This wonderful and beautiful music will quench and moisturize your parched soul, and evoke comfortable feelings and peace of mind

[roberthiggins]

A beautiful piece of music. So stirring and full of powerful emotions . It brings tears to my eyes.Thank you.

[kateking]

I heard a recording of Vaughan Williams speaking as a very old man not long before he died. The interviewer asked him,
given his age, if he was afraid of death. Vaughan Williams replied 'no, for then I shall BE music'. This is the music he
is now.

[kevinking]

I chose this piece for my fathers funeral. It played as the curtains closed. The final quiet few chords, reflected my father's passing away from this world and into a better place. Rest in peace Dad.

[stevendouglascarr]

I've always felt at home with Vaughan Williams' music and this is one of my favorites. Your photography is so evocative of RVW's spirit...

[stuartross]

Heard this on the radio tonight and was absolutely swept away. Play this at my funeral please.

[twjclarke]

I left England 4 years ago and since have lived in Sweden and Germany, but I am always 'home' when I listen to this.

[elgustoesmiochupaki]

I have loved this piece since I first heard it in 1979. Just wanted to help along all music lovers here who wish god blessings on the composer. Ralph Vaughan Williams was an atheist. Isn’t y that absolutely wonderful?!

[AntPDC]

Thanks so much Dennis. In my work here, both with Finzi and RVW, I set out to share their music with a wider world, simply because their music has made such an impact on my life. And if my photography enhances the listener's experience, then that's a tiny bonus. If not, the composers' (and musicians') work speaks for itself, of course.

Best wishes.

[danielhowe]

When I listen to this beautiful music, i am transported to the age of open fields without walls. There is real majesty in the determination and vigour of this glorious, fabulous music!

[riverdart]

In this you will find England in all her truth and her is sublime and wonderful, and we should treasure her for she is home and to find rest in a home such as she is richness indeed..

[madeleinelaurence]

I may be a young grasshopper compared to the other people listening to this, but even I can see that Ralph Vaughan Williams had an amazing gift. He wrote a story on my soul and I'm writing that story on paper. Maybe someday It will get published and you may read it. Who knows? If I do then I am extremely lucky.

[daviddavenport]

This was my dear departed wife's favorite work of RVW....she was an excellent violinist/violist and I regret that we never had the chance to perform this together. She loved especiall y the variant with solo violin and stated it sounded so

[barbaraconnelly]

Makes me think of how much I miss England.

[jordanesewals]

Music so english, picture the landscapes and the colors. Masterpiece !!!

[paulhardman]

Oh how Beautiful this is it breaks my heart and I don't know why.

[gillwilkinsongw]

SO SO gorgeous, evocative, so English and sublime! How lovely to read all these comments. I thought it was just us 'oldies' who loved this music, but I was wrong. It really does speak to you, and Ralph Vaughan Williams had such a gift for expression and atmosphere in his music. God Bless him for giving us such beauty!

[stephencalder]

Takes me to a place on high.Stirring, calming, beautiful.A gift of the Spirit.

[Gabbleduck]

This is beautiful, it is the most 'English' of music, by a great English composer. I Love it.

[DSiebert]

As a member of the RVW Society, I thank you for helping promote the music of this magnificent composer. I agree with you that this piece is especially glorious.