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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
(1872-1958)
premiere recording of the arrangement for strings and organ
1.
Fantasia on Christmas Carols
12:19
premiere recording
On Christmas Night
28:08
A Masque adapted from Dickens' A Christmas Carol
2.
Prelude. God rest you merry - Allegro agitato -
1:51
3.
Marley's Ghost. Allegro moderato e pesante
1:42
4.
The Spirit of Christmas. Lento -
0:49
5.
Fezziwig's Christmas Party. Molto moderato -
2:15
6.
Fezziwig's Parlour: Scene 2. Allegro -
4:16
7.
Morris jig. Allegro molto -
1:42
8.
The Triumph. Allegro moderato -
2:07
9.
Roger de Coverley -
1:02
10.
Midnight. Lento -
1:44
11.
A procession. Lento -
2:45
12.
Victorian Drawing Room. Andante sostenuto -
0:56
13.
Bob Cratchit's Christmas Party -
1:27
14.
Bob Cratchit's Toast. Lento -
0:31
15.
Black Nag. Allegro -
1:35
16.
Procession of the Nativity. Lento
3:20
The First Nowell
29:09
A Nativity Play
17.
1
Prelude. God rest you merry and The truth from above
4:55
Baritone solo and Chorus
18.
2
Angelus ad Virginem
1:34
Soprano solo
19.
3
The Salutation Carol
2:04
Chorus
20.
6
The Cherry Tree Carol: Part One
1:55
Chorus
21.
7
The Cherry Tree Carol: Part Two
1:32
Soprano solo
22.
8
Joseph and Mary
2:39
Baritone solo and Chorus
23.
9
'In Bethlehem City' (A Virgin most pure)
2:35
Women's Chorus
24.
15
The Sussex Carol
1:20
Baritone solo and Chorus
25.
16
'Tidings true there be come new' (The Salutation Carol)
1:07
Tenors and Basses
26.
17
How brightly shone the morning star
3:19
Chorus
27.
18
[Interlude]
0:56
Orchestra
28.
20
The First Nowell
5:06
Soprano, Baritone and Chorus
69:36
Solo:Sarah Fox soprano
Solo: Roderick Williams baritone
Choral: Joyful Company of Singers
Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia
Conductor:Richard Hickox
5 & 5 December 2005
Notes
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Reviews
"... The late Richard Hickox leads a beautiful performance of all three works. Indeed, his Fantasia on Christmas Carols I think the best I’ve heard. Sarah Fox is sweet-voiced in both On Christmas Night and The First Nowell. Roderick Williams (or maybe Simon Keenlyside) may well be my favorite baritone right now. He possesses a beautiful voice which he uses intelligently. His breath control seems to know no limit and allows him to phrase anywhere he wants and to subtly color his line. The choir and orchestra are thoroughly professional, but it’s the ensemble and the music that become the stars. Highly recommended."
Steve Schwartz - ClassicalNet.com
"... On home ground here, Richard Hickox obtains excellent performances from his own City of London Sinfonia, the fresh-voiced Joyful Company of Singers, and two fine soloists, Good sound too."
BBC Music Magazine
"... Hickox makes an eloquent case for the score, which is handsomely played by the City of London Sinfonia. As for Vaughan Williams’s nativity play ‘The First Nowell’, it almost combines innocence and knowingness as any good Nativity play should."
International Record Review
"An absolute joy for everyone"
The Organ
"... This is safe Richard Hickox territory and he obtains idiomatic and enjoyable performances. Splendid recorded sound."
The Sunday Times
"... Hickox is well supported throughout by the Soprano Sarah Fox, the Joyful Company of Singers and the orchestra he founded, the City of London Sinfonia. Special Praise must go to the mellifluous baritone soloist Roderick Williams, who has made some excellent recordings lately but none better than this. The Chandos sound is exemplary."
Daily Mail
Editor’s Choice
"There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with this enchanting disc, which contains some delightful rarities. OK, so there are the requisite number of carols, but nothing ever sounds hackneyed from Vaughan Williams. With glowing playing and singing under the baton of Richard Hickox, there’s plenty for the head as well as the Christmas hearth."
Gramophone
Love Vaughan Williams, and how wonderful to have an entire disc of classical Christmas music!!
M Fiacco
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