William Vann, Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Derek Welton, Iain Burnside
Release Date: 01 November 2024
Label: Albion Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060158190645
Description
In 1920 Mrs Ella Mary Leather and Ralph Vaughan Williams jointly published "Twelve Traditional Carols from Herefordshire". Vaughan Williams arranged each of the carols twice: first, for unaccompanied choir (SATB); and second, for voice and piano.
The choral versions are recorded as a set in 2024 for the first time, coupled with the alternative settings for voice and piano, recorded in 2011.
The carols are performed with traditional words, not all of which follow the biblical canon, and they are by no means all about Christmas. As a consequence there are some unfamiliar carols and some new tunes for well-known carols.
In the first twelve tracks, William Vann directs the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square, in February 2024. The choir regularly records for Albion Records and featured on two very successful earlier Christmas collections: 'ALBCD035 A Vaughan Williams Christmas', and 'ALBCD050 An Oxford Christmas'. This year a new collection is released on 'ALBCD063 A Christmas Fantasia'.
Tracks 13 to 24 were recorded by bass-baritone Derek Welton, accompanied by pianist Iain Burnside at Potton Hall in 2011. Those tracks form part of a longer recital of folk-carols and folk-songs arranged by Vaughan Williams presented on 'ALBCD013 On Christmas Day'.
The conductor and pianist William Vann is recognised in particular for his acclaimed revivals of neglected works of British choral music and song and is Director of Music at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. His eight critically acclaimed recordings with that choir have included first recordings of works by Elgar, Holst and Vaughan Williams and his studio recordings of Parry's Judith and Prometheus Unbound have been awarded a host of accolades, including Gramophone's 'Recording of the Month'.
'The acoustic of Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square is generous and full which supports the choir well. Alongside his editing of these arrangements, Vann is very good at making his musical points carefully and effectively.' – Music Web International
'Carols from Herefordshire is beautifully sung and represents an important addition to the catalogue as most of the choral version have never been recorded before.' – Choir & Organ
'This choir's vocal timbre is ideal. They are well balanced, with clear diction and a fresh uncluttered tone. Soloists often perform some stanzas to create variety, and are accompanied by vocalisation of the harmonies. There also is some very warm, unison singing at the start of each carol and in some later verses.' – Music Web International
'The voices of London's King's College Choir are accented by Anneke Hodnett's harp and Martin Owen's horn, and its sets out the composer's stall with its buoyant radiance. There is a real timeless quality to this music.' – BBC Music Magazine (4 stars)
Tracklisting
Tredegar Town Band, Ross Knight, Ian Porthouse, Martyn Brabbins
Alessandro Fisher, William Vann, The Navarra Quartet
Adrian Sims & Alan Rowlands
David Briggs
Chapel Choir Of The Royal Hospital, Joshua Ryan & William Vann
Timothy West, Samuel West, Mary Bevan, Sophie Bevan, Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge, Britten Sin
Various
David Welton & Iain Burnside
Polina Pastirchak, Anke Vondung, Sungmin Song, Milan Siljanov, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochumer Symphoniker,
Kammerchor Stuttgart; Barockorchester Stuttgart; Frieder Bernius; Hannah Morrison; Franziska Bobe;
Choralchor der St. Johannis-Kantorei Rostock
Capella Daleminzia, Capella Vocale Waldheim, Rene Michael Roder
Gewandhaus Children's Choir, Frank-Steffen Elster, Gewandhaus Youth Choir, Gewandhaus Choir, Gregor
Aukso - Chamber Orchestra Of The City Of Tychy, Camerata Silesia Katowice City Singers' Ensemble, M
Herbert von Karajan; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Berliner Philharmoniker
Soloists, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Bruggen
