Any dedicated fan of
Ralph Vaughan Williams will want to hear the performances of the English composer's complete film scores on this three-disc set. It contains many world-premiere recordings, including such rarities as The People's Land and The Loves of Joanna Godden. All the performances are superbly conducted by
Rumon Gamba and brilliantly played by the
BBC Philharmonic, with additional support by vocal soloists and various midlands choruses. The sound is consistently excellent, with plenty of color, lots of warmth, and an almost overwhelming sense of place and time. Anyone not already familiar with
Vaughan Williams should begin with his infinitely better known Lark Ascending or Greensleeves Fantasia, and then move on to his imposing series of nine symphonies before dipping into his film music, an admittedly minor interest of the composer. Listeners who already know and love
Vaughan Williams, though, will want to hear how he applies himself to the hybrid medium of film music, and many will no doubt be surprised and pleased by what they find.