BBC Philharmonic, John Andrews - Grace Williams: Orchestral Works (2024) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Four Illustrations for the Legend of Rhiannon: I. The Conflict
02. Four Illustrations for the Legend of Rhiannon: II. The Nuptial Feast
03. Four Illustrations for the Legend of Rhiannon: III. The Penance
04. Four Illustrations for the Legend of Rhiannon: IV. The Return of Pryderi
05. Castell Caernarfon
06. Ballads: I. Allegro moderato, alla canzone
07. Ballads: II. Alla marcia solenne
08. Ballads: III. Andante calmante
09. Ballads: IV. Allegro furioso
10. Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: I. High Wind
11. Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: II. Sailing Song
12. Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: III. Channel Sirens
13. Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: IV. Breakers
14. Sea Sketches for String Orchestra: V. Calm Sea in Summer

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, under the expert baton of John Andrews, illuminates four of Grace Williams’ orchestral gems, spanning three decades of her illustrious career. This album opens with Four Illustrations of the Legend of Rhiannon (1939), a masterful suite that vividly brings the Welsh goddess to life with cinematic flair. The Sea Sketches (1944), composed during the wartime tumult of London, evoke the longing for her native Barry, Glamorgan, and cement her status among Britain’s compositional elite. The Ballads mark a return to Welsh mythos, with movements inspired by the emotional and cultural essence of her homeland. The regal Castell Caernarfon (1969), originally scored for the investiture of HRH Prince Charles, showcases Williams’ grandiloquent style. This release pays homage to Williams' legacy, celebrating her as one of the premier Welsh composers of the twentieth century.

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