Two of the 20th century’s most popular orchestral works are based on hymns—one from 16th century England, and the other from 19th century America. And both hymns are well-known today almost entirely because of their use in those two concert pieces.
In this hour, the story of the Tudor hymn that inspired Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis—and the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts,” rediscovered by Aaron Copland and made famous in perhaps his best-known work, Appalachian Spring.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
|
Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
|
Whales and Nightingales (Judy Collins) |
Judy Collins |
Elektra 75010 |
075596067621 |
|
Vaughan Williams: ] Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 |
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Adrian Boult |
EMI CDM 7 640222 |
077776402222 |
|
Vaughan Williams: Collector's Edition [for “Old One Hundredth “] |
Choir Of Winchester Cathedral and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill, cond Symphony Orchestra, David Hill, cond. |
EMI 2066362 |
5099920663629 |
|
Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis [for Sancte Deus Sancte Deus & Tunes for Archbishop Parker’s Psalter] |
Tallis Scholars |
Gimell CDGIM203 |
755138120327 |
|
O Thou Transcendent [DVD] [fpr ] “When Rising from the Bed of Death” from 47:56-48:46] |
Choir of Gloucester Cathedral |
Tony Palmer Films TPDVD106 |
604388698127 |
|
Vaughan Williams: Collector's Edition [for Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis] |
Bournemouth Symphony, Silvestri |
EMI 2066362 |
5099920663629 |
|
Heartstrings [for “Simple Gifts”] |
Muriel Anderson |
CGD 99 |
671583016827 |
|
Simple Gifts |
Coulter & Phillips |
Gourd Music 106 |
090167010622 |
|
Simple Gifts |
Boston Camerata |
Erato 4509-98491-2 |
745099849122 |
|
Copland: Applachian Spring, etc |
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, Davies |
Nimbus NI 2506 |
710357250620 |
|
Long Time Ago [for Copland, Old American Songs: “Simple Gifts”] |
(St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Wolff; Hampson |
Teldec 9031-77310-2 |
090317731025 |
|
John Williams: “Air and Simple Gifts” |
Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, and Itzhak Perlman and Itzhak Perlman |
iTunes download |
n/a |
