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Vaughan Williams - An Oxford Christmas

£12.69

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Label: Albion Records

Cat No: ALBCD050

Barcode: 5060158190508

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Christmas

Release Date: 22nd October 2021

Artists

Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Joshua Ryan (organ)

Conductor

William Vann

Artists

Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Joshua Ryan (organ)

Conductor

William Vann

About

This recording focusses on arrangements made by Vaughan Williams for The Oxford Book of Carols (1928), coupled with two later carols published by OUP.

Many of the tunes are far from well-known and deserve a new audience. We think 10 of the 22 tracks are first recordings, but reserve the right to have overlooked one or two amidst the vast but very mixed heritage of recorded carols. The preface to The Oxford Book of Carols tells us that: ‘Variety in the method of singing is even more important than with hymns, and the verses should never be sung straight through all in the same way.’

In this spirit the choir’s director, William Vann, has prepared the carols for recording with a mixture of accompanied, unaccompanied and solo verses. Few of these carols are likely to have been undertaken by a congregation; this recording by a choir of distinguished professional singers presents the carols at their best, supported by the Henry Willis organ of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, in half of the carols.

As always, full texts are included, and detailed notes on the carols are preceded by an essay about The Oxford Book of Carols by Jeremy Summerly.

This is a companion album to ALBCD035 A Vaughan Williams Christmas, which proved outstandingly popular. We hope that this will provide every bit as much enjoyment.

Tracks:
1. Sussex Mummers’ Carol
2. Hereford Carol
3. A Virgin Most Pure
4. Sussex Carol (Second Tune)
5. Gloucestershire Wassail
6. The Salutation Carol
7. The Bellman’s Song (Third Tune)
8. Job (Come All You Worthy Christian Men – Third Tune)
9. This Endris Night
10. Sussex Carol (First Tune)
11. Coverdale’s Carol
12. Song of the Crib
13. Children’s Song of the Nativity
14. If Ye Would Hear the Angels Sing
15. Quem Pastores – Shepherds Left Their Flocks A-Straying)
16. The Bellman’s Song (Second Tune)
17. Joseph and Mary
18. Job (Come All You Worthy Christian Men – Fourth Tune)
19. The Seven Virgins
20. Psalm of Sion
21. O My Dear Heart
22. God Bless the Master of This House

Sound/Video

Paused

1

Sussex Mummers’ Carol
2

Hereford Carol
3

A Virgin Most Pure
4

Sussex Carol (Second Tune)
5

Gloucestershire Wassail
6

The Salutation Carol
7

The Bellman’s Song (Third Tune)
8

Job (Come All You Worthy Christian Men – Third Tune)
9

This Endris Night
10

Sussex Carol (First Tune)
11

Coverdale’s Carol
12

Song of the Crib
13

Children’s Song of the Nativity
14

If Ye Would Hear the Angels Sing
15

Quem Pastores - Shepherds Left Their Flocks A-Straying
16

The Bellman’s Song (Second Tune)
17

Joseph and Mary
18

Job (Come All You Worthy Christian Men – Fourth Tune)
19

The Seven Virgins
20

Psalm of Sion
21

O My Dear Heart
22

God Bless the Master of This House

Reviews

22 of the carols [Vaughan Williams] arranged for [The Oxford Book of Christmas Carols] – most of British origin – are given winning performances by the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, conducted by William Vann. ... an intriguing anthology to investigate. Terry Blain

BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2021