“Dark Pastoral” for Cello and Orchestra: David Matthews’ Completion of a Vaughan Williams Fragment

A four-minute fragment of music, sketched by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1942, is all that exists of a cello concerto the composer intended to write for Pablo Casals.

In 2010, contemporary English composer David Matthews (b. 1943) developed the fragment, which would have become the concerto’s slow movement, into the elegiac Dark Pastoral for cello and orchestra. Vaughan Williams’ original two-stave short score set out the movement’s A section, with only a few instrumental indications, before branching off into another sketch.

Serene and melancholy, the music evokes the timelessness of the English landscape. It begins with the wistful voice of the solo clarinet, and a halting pizzicato bass line in the low strings. The solo cello takes centerstage as the soulful protagonist. In the final six minutes of the piece, Matthews picks up where Vaughan Williams leaves off to bring the musical drama to a celestial conclusion.

This world premiere recording features cellist Guy Johnston with Martin Yates and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra:

Recordings

  • Matthews/Vaughan Williams: Dark Pastoral, Guy Johnston, Martin Yates, Royal Scottish National Orchestra David-Matthews.co.uk.com

Featured Image: “Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds”(c. 1823), John Constable 

About Timothy Judd

A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa.

The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States.

A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals.

In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program.

1 thought on ““Dark Pastoral” for Cello and Orchestra: David Matthews’ Completion of a Vaughan Williams Fragment”

  1. Such a lovely piece. Love the backstory too. Very happy to have found your blog. I’m looking forward to reading your previous posts, beginning with Mahler!

    Reply

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