12. Ralph Vaughan WilliamsVariations On A Theme by Thomas Tallis
One of the greatest bits of music of all time. It’s funny, because Vaughan Williams is well-known for collecting folk songs, of course, but I can’t bear his arrangements. The harmonies are awful to my ears. They don’t work! His hymn arrangements with solid chords and harmonies really do, though.
I also love how this is used in the Master and Commander film too, with Russell Crowe in it. I liked the books, but was a bit, ‘Oh Christ, this isn’t going to be very good,’ approaching the film, but it was wonderful. This plays in a scene of a sea battle, and it’s so gripping. It felt like the ships were rising with the music. It hit all my buttons. Another film song I like a lot is ‘The King Of Wishful Thinking’ by Go West. [laughs] I don’t know why I do, but I just love it! I’ll watch Pretty Woman again and again just to hear it. What a tune!
