Glossary entry for
Lark Ascending

The piece "The Lark Ascending", done by Van's band (I don't think Van played on it) is a very popular piece of music by the English composer Ralph (pronounced "Rafe") Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). The title is from a poem by George Meredith and an excerpt is inscribed on the score:
He rises and begins to round,
He drops the silver chain of sound,
Of many links without a break,
In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake...

For singing till his heaven fills,
'Tis love of earth that he instils,
And ever winging up and up,
Our valley is his golden cup
And he the wine which overflows
To lift us with him as he goes...

Till lost on his aerial rings
In light, and then the fancy sings.

The following quote is taken from the web site noted below:
This work is subtitled "A Romance for violin and small orchestra" - and RVW tended to reserve the title "Romance" for some of his favourite and most lyrical pieces. ["The Lark Ascending"] was originally written in 1914, but the outbreak of war delayed its first performance and it was revised by the composer in 1920. It is ironic that a work evoking the tranquillity of pre-war England would be premiered in the same land now shattered by war 6 years later.

There are many fine classical albums on which "The Lark" appears. I [Robert Glenn Plotner] would suggest also Vaughan Williams' wonderful "Serenade to Music" if you can find this on the same CD. Other 20th century British composers of note include: Edward Elgar, William Walton, William Alwyn, Frank Bridge, Arnold Bax, Gustav Holst, Edmund Rubbra, Frederick Delius, and Benjamin Britten.

Contributed by Art Seigel and Robert Glenn Plotner

More information at:

Van references in:

Part of the van-the-man.info unofficial website