Any other fans of these piece out there? Who do you think has made the finest recording of this piece of music?

Absolutely adore this piece of music and have heard it played by various musicians. The violinist that stands out in my mind Iv'e heard playing this is Sophie Ann Mutter.

Linden Lea is my favourite.

You're spot on - this is an amazing piece of music, and it's how I imagine Heaven might sound! For me the definitive version is by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with Iona Brown on violin.
Check out Vaughan William's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, too.

VW captured an aspect of "Britishness"

if Ravi Shankar were British, which he's not, him and VW would have been able to create something delightfully parochial.

This version is lovely - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbcuteYm-EA

"For me the definitive version is by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with Iona Brown on violin."

I have this recording as well. Superb piece of classical music.

Fizzbin - thanks for the link to Janine Jansen!

and thanks from me too

The violin can be an instrument that's made to sound, in some pieces of music at least, incredibly harsh and in others so serene and almost hypnotic. This piece certainly has the latter qualities.


There doesn't seem to be much discussion of orchestral music here????

Thanks for the link. This piece of music is so soulfull. Always gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.