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
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!