Ralph Vaughan Williams – Painter of musical canvases

This month marks the anniversary of the birth of  Ralph Vaughan Williams (RVW) 1872-1958. He was a popular and prolific English composer of orchestral works, choral music, operas,  symphonies, chamber music and film scores.

As well as composing, which he did into his eighties, he conducted, lectured and edited other music, notably the English Hymnal.
He also became interested in English folk music and song. He was concerned that they would become extinct, and travelled about transcribing and preserving material, some of which he later included in his works.

It has been said that RVW could paint a picture in sound. His Lark Ascending is typical of his pastoral works and is thought to be one of the finest pieces of English music ever written. Based on a poem by George Meredith, it evokes images for the listener – beautiful summer days, birdsong, flowers, gentle water and languid peace.

Recently, a CD of his Sancta Civitas and Dona Nobis Pacem was short-listed for Best CD in the Choral section of the Gramophone Awards. These are considered to be two of RVW’s finest choral works.

Sancta Civitas – The Holy City, is a powerful oratorio written in the early 1920s. RVW drew inspiration from the Book of Revelation and it is a musical depiction of the battle between Good and Evil. It was said to be his favourite choral work.

Dona pacem nobis– Grant us peace,  is a cantata written in 1936 as the war clouds were beginning to gather again in Europe. He sourced his texts from the Mass, the Bible, Walt Whitman poems and a political speech. Even though he was older and it was not required, RVW chose to enlist in the Royal Army Medical Corps in WWI. This work is viewed as his plea for future peace.

RVW was born into the privileged intellectual upper middle class being related to both the Wedgewoods and the Darwins but it is said he never took his fortunate situation for granted and worked all his life for the democratic and egalitarian ideals in which he believed.

• Search the catalogue for music by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
• Search the catalogue for books about R.V.W.

Library tree cat

On Thursday 21 October 2010, customers on the 2nd floor pointed out a grey cat sitting in a tree through sun and hail, looking lost. The fire brigade came along to try and coax him down from his lofty perch.

The drama ended when he crossed to the other side of Gloucester Street, using the tree as a leafy airbridge.

• View our photos of Tree Cat by our intrepid reporter and user support specialist Katie.
• Read the story Mischevious moggy eludes rescuer  – The Press

Libraries and cats have a long lasting connection. Last year we hosted a lost cat called Dell and there have been other cats in our libraries as more long term guests – including George who lived in the old Canterbury Public Library from 1963 to 1976 and Pete the Shirley Library cat.

Painting a NZ Korean picture

Art exhibitions are not something that many people would immediately associate with libraries,  but then Christchurch City Libraries has always delighted in providing more than you think! 

So this month visitors to the library network are in for a double delight – while New Brighton Library is hosting the Bookish Artists exhibition, Upper Riccarton Library is featuring paintings by Chichi Geureemteo (i.e. Christchurch Art Gallery in Korean), a local Korean painting group.  The group has some 15-20 members who meet weekly at the library to work together.

The exhibition includes over 30 paintings depicting both New Zealand and Korean landscapes, as well as still life subjects, and there is some great talent on show.

But be quick to visit – the exhibition finishes on Sunday 24 October!

And if you are inspired to have a go at painting yourself, why not try some of the following links? 

• Resources on painting technique in our catalogue
• DVDs about painting in our catalogue
• Painting groups and classes in CINCH (our database of community information)
• Fine arts resources in our Internet Gateway