Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus

Excerpts from “Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus”:

This is a small work for string orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams, based on the well-known folk tune Dives and Lazarus and first performed at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. One of the variations uses a form of the tune traditionally ociated with Maria Martin.

Dives and Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives is a parable attributed to Jesus that is reported only in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 16:19-16:31). It is also known as “The Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus.” The wealthy man is traditionally called “Dives”, after the Latin word for “rich man” (though in the Biblical text he is only referred to as the rich man).[1] The story has been a favorite for artists and theologians, as it is the most vivid account of the afterlife to be found in the New Testament.

(We appreciate Both Wikipaedia’s and All Music Guide’s contributions in the descriptions here)

Duration : 0:8:40


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4 Responses to “Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus”

  1. Milverton68 says:

    Thank you…
    Thank you…

  2. Drvol1 says:

    Treat the world …
    Treat the world like a head.

  3. rrdn2 says:

    V.W. collected the …
    V.W. collected the tune with Cecil Sharp in Essex where it was called “Through Bushes and Briars” It bears some resemblnce to “The star of county Down” but that tune is not a “traditional ” Irish tune as it does not have any “traditional” Irish modal or melodic characteristics any more than Danny Boy which is in fact a Breton tune

  4. widgeasha says:

    heard this music …
    heard this music for the 1st time on the radio the other day. it makes my heart want to break it is so beautiful…

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