Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 6 (LSO, Boult, 1949)

My transfer and restoration from my father's 10" HMV LP which he bought when it was issued in October 1952.
This recording was made by the London Symphony Orchestra, leader George Stratton, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, at Studio 1, Abbey Road, on 23rd and 24th February 1949. The sessions were attended by the composer, produced by Lawrance Collingwood with the engineer Douglas Larter.
It was recorded on 78rpm wax matrices*, numbered 2EA13623 to 2EA13630 and released on four 78rpm records numbered C3873-76 (C7755-58 automatic sequence for autochangers) in July 1949.
The composer subsequently revised the Scherzo which was re-recorded on 15 February 1950. This was substituted for the original.
It was transferred to LP BLP1001 and released in October 1952.
*It is possible that it was recorded on magnetic tape and the matrices prepared from that. In which case the LP transfer was from tape.

[@SFreije1]

Great job, it sounds amazing for its age!

[@webrarian]

You're right. When you think it was probably recorded on wax, possibly very early tape. I was surprised at what was in those very elderly grooves.

[@danilo22uk]

Fantastic Chris. Which includes the theme used for the BBC series Family at War, the series which is now available on UA-cam.

[@Alex_LionComposer]

My favourite VW symphony! Great to hear this recording, and your restoration sounds really good.
Also interesting how the saxophone solo here is played much more staccato than later recordings.

[@webrarian]

You have such good ears. I hadn't noticed the sax at all.

[@brianeynon5406]

I have always liked the second movement with it's angry tones fighting the peaceful tones as of Vaughn Williams is saying the war might be ended but still war like thoughts abound ,a great symphony the fourth movement brings what would be if Hiroshima and Nagasaki was used again that is the atom bomb although the composer denied this strongly .

[@saltburner2]

This was among the first batch of LPs issued by EMI in Autumn 1952, It was on BLP1001 a much-missed 10" disc.
Also in the first issue was Solomon playing the Tchaikovsky B flat concerto with Issay Dobrowen conducting on CLP 1001.
That was one of the first LPs I bought in 1955.