Having enjoyed the companion Elgar set, I bought this immediately when it came out. It is certainly extraordinary value for money, at less than $3 per disc. I am less taken with the content however. Many of the recordings are choral works which are less compelling to this listener than V-W's orchestral works. Moreover, the latter are just not that exciting when compared to other recordings that I already possess. The organization is also rather parsimonious, and short works--often interesting ones--are... more info
EMI's Vaughan Williams Collection:
This splendid set, an amazing bargain, provides most of Vaughan Williams's music in various, sometimes relatively recent, vintages of recordings. VW is a vastly underrated composer. Some of the symphonies are bonafide masterpieces, especially numbers 4 and 6, but the London Symphony (#2) and the 8th and 9th are pretty top drawer as well, if not as stunning as 4 and 6. But then, 3 and 5 are excellent in a more "pastoral" way, though hardly the "cow music" written about in a recent New York Times article. If... more info
An extensive glance at Vaughan Williams's work:
This is indeed a very good opportunity to have a detailed view at this composer's work at a bargain price. To me, it has always been difficult to get Vaughan Williams's recordings as I'm out of the UK, where most of them are released individually. It is great to have a box like this to get closer to this marvellous orchestrator, with his compositions so full of instrumental colour. The price is excellent, the only disappointment is that thera are no booklet notes at all. At least the CD tracking details are... more info
Too cheaply done.:
I know people revere Boult and Handley and Hickox as the best of all possible interpreters for British music, along with Groves and Barbirolli and all of the other artists presented here. So please don't take offense as I pick apart this box set -- because it's not as great as some other reviewers make it out to be. Others can tell you why it's good (and it has LOTS of good stuff). Let me criticize it a little. Or a lot. First, the packaging. I'm getting really tired of these box sets (Elgar on EMI,... more info
Tracks:
1. A Song for All Seas, All Ships. Behold, the sea itself
1. A Song for All Seas, All Ships. Today a rude brief recitative
1. A Song for All Seas, All Ships. Flaunt out, O sea, your separate flags of nations!
1. A Song for All Seas, All Ships. Token of all brave captains
1. A Song for All Seas, All Ships. A pennant universal
2. On the Beach at Night, Alone. On the beach at night, alone
2. On the Beach at Night, Alone. A vast similitude interlocks all
3. Scherzo: The Waves
4. The Explorers. O vast Rondure, swimming in Space
![Bedrich Smetana [Box] [Germany]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411G%2BGf-YwL._SL75_.jpg)
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