Vaughan Williams, Holst: Choral Folksong Arrangements
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CD Details
Performer: Christopher KeytePerformer: Geoffrey Shaw
Composer: Gustav Holst
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Performer: Susan Longfield
Performer: Ian Partridge
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2008-07-22
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Bushes and Briars (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Loch Lomond (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: John Dory (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Ward, the Pirate (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Ca' the Yowes (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Unquiet Grave (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Seeds of Love(Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Early in the Spring (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Turtle Dove (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Five English Songs (Christopher Bishop/London Madrigral Singers)
- Gustav Holst: The Homecoming H.120 (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Hymn to Manas (Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, fourth group, H. 100, No. 3)(Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Eight Canons for equal voices, H. 187 - The Fields of Sorrow (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Eight Canons for equal voices, H. 187 - David's Lament for Jonathan (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Eight Canons for equal voices, H. 187 - Truth of All Truth (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Six Choral Folk Songs, H. 136 - The Song of the Blacksmith (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Six Choral Folk Songs, H. 136 - I sowed the seeds of love (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Six Choral Folk Songs, H. 136 - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Six Choral Folk Songs, H. 136 - I love my love(Baccholian Singers of London)
- Gustav Holst: Six Choral Folk Songs, H. 136 - Swansea Town (Baccholian Singers of London)
Music reviews of Vaughan Williams, Holst: Choral Folksong Arrangements
Music Review: Some of the greatest literature for small choirs
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one disk of a previous EMI release of a double CD of folk song arrangements by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Warlock, Elgar, Britten, and others. The current edition contains the more desirable tracks. The Vaughan Williams tracks first appeared on a "Seraphim" LP about 1975.
Vaughan Williams' partsong arrangments are some of the best secular pieces in choral literature. Each one tells a story, frequently with different voice parts as characters (but not in a corny way). The part writing is exquisite. The "Five English Folk Songs" are frequently sung by college choirs, and I once sang "The Turtle Dove" as an audition piece.
The recorded performance ranks as one the the best recordings of small choir that I have ever heard. Veteran EMI producer Christopher Bishop called up some of the best British voices of the 1960s and 70s, called them the "London Madrigal Singers" and lead them through performances that cannot be bettered. This is music that can easily go wrong with too heavy a hand, or the "wrong" aesthetic. British good taste (admittedly not to everyone's liking) prevails, but it is not in the least "twee". Christopher Bishop produced some of the Adrian Boult Vaughan Williams sessions which makes him perfectly tuned in to the style. Ian Partridge (the finest "under the radar" tenor I have ever heard), Geoffrey Shaw, Christopher Keyte and Susan Longfield are the soloists, taken from the choir. This is the kind of choir (and the probably the same singers)that would show up as the "Louis Halsey Singers" on Argo recordings. Absolutely first rate.
The Holst tracks are well done, but a little problematic. The "Baccholian Singers of London" are a small all male group. This works in some of the tracks, such as "Song of the Blacksmith", although even there, some different color when the initial material repeats, would be welcome. The all male texture really lets you down in "I Love my Love", which really requires a mixed choir. On the other hand "Swansea Town" is perfect, with a real sea shanty flavor (and rivaling Robert Shaw).
Minor quibbles aside, this is a great chance to hear literature that you will enjoy whether a fan of English music, choral singing, or fine music in general. You will play this a lot.
Description of Vaughan Williams, Holst: Choral Folksong Arrangements
From the series of British Composers, Vaughan Williams & Holst with the Choral Folksong Arrangements of London Madrigal Singers with Christopher Bishop and the Baccholian Singers of London.General CDs
- Styles > Classical
- Featured Composers, A-Z > ( H ) > Holst, Gustav
- ( V ) > Vaughan Williams, Ralph
- Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Vaughan Williams, Ralph
- General Modern
- Sacred & Religious > General
- Symphonies > General
- Opera & Vocal > General
- Vocal Non-Opera > Choruses
- Hymns
- Songs & Lieder > Folk Songs
- Folk > General
- Pop > Vocal Pop > General
- Classical - Historical Periods - Modern, 20th, & 21st Century - Composers - Vaughan Williams, Ralph - General
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