Tony Palmer's Film of ‘O Thou Transcendent': The Life of Ralph Vaughan Williams

Tony Palmer continues his series of exemplary musical documentaries with this portrait of Ralph Vaughan Williams, a 20th-century British composer who's often thought of as a romantic reactionary, an avuncular throwback known for his sweet-sounding versions of folk songs and magisterial church works. On the contrary, Palmer argues—Vaughan Williams was a highly complex and troubled individual whose music reflected not only unorthodox religious views but also a dark, pessimistic vision of humankind rooted in his own experience of war and marital discord. As usual with Palmer's films, the sheer amount of material (nearly two-and-a-half hours' worth) is remarkable. In addition to archival photos and footage, the film features a well-chosen collection of old (presumably radio) voiceovers from the composer himself, together with substantial excerpts from interviews with his second wife Ursula and a broad selection of friends and colleagues, including such major musical figures as Michael Tippett, Mark-Anthony Turnage, and John Adams, as well as conductors such as André Previn, Adrian Boult, and David Willcocks, along with biographer Michael Kennedy. The real strength of ‘O Thou Transcendent', however, is the stream of musical examples drawn from Vaughan Williams' compositions, including songs, suites, operas, choral works, film scores, and (especially) the nine symphonies—all beautifully performed and, more than words, demonstrating that Vaughan Williams was far more than a stodgy traditionalist. The only flaw here is Palmer's periodic insertion of very graphic contemporary shots of war victims to illustrate the grim view of the world conveyed by the music, which is neither subtle nor necessary. Still, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)