RVW March 07 Revised 19/1/07 10:44 Page 1 Journal of the No.38 March 2007 In this issue... Eric Seddon on The Pilgrim's Progress RVWSociety page 4 "Glorious John" in Bulawayo page 19 RVW - “an Atheist who The poems of Ursula Vaughan had suspended disbelief” Williams page 31 The weekend Symposium on religion in the life and music of Vaughan Williams and Elgar, held in late November 2006, provided much food for thought and alternative viewpoints from the world class speakers at the event. and more . Eric Seddon elaborated on his controversial views on Vaughan Williams and religion in his thoughtful analysis of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Describing Pilgrim as a triumph of “theology over ideology”, he identified the sacramental and ecclesiastical elements written into the CHAIRMAN Morality. Using many musical examples, Seddon referred to Act 1, Scene 2, when the Stephen Connock MBE Interpreter lays hands on Pilgrim and seals his forehead, as one of the most overtly sacramental moments in the opera. In addition the “cross” icon occurs over 25 times in the 65 Marathon House opera. Eric Seddon concluded that The Pilgrim’s Progress is “profoundly and uniformly 200 Marylebone Road Christian”. London NW1 5PL Tel: 01728 454820 Michael Kennedy, with the authority and wisdom of a lifetime’s reflection, was wary of over- Fax: 01728 454873 interpreting Vaughan Williams’ works. Music was Vaughan Williams’ focus, not theology or
[email protected] philosophy. “Our little life is rounded in a sleep” meant much to the composer. Vaughan Williams was, to be sure, moved by the words – be it the Psalms, Bunyan, Shakespeare or TREASURER Whitman – but the identification with the text was less philosophical and more musical.