Apparently, his 30-minute cantata, The First Nowell, contains 20 of them. Since I am not British nor Anglican, I do not recognize most of them, but it is an effective work nonetheless.
On Christmas Night is ballet music which follows portions of A Christmas Carol. It too contains a few carols, but this work is in an instrumental form, so it is rather different than the rest of the program.
The ubiquitous Fantasia on Christmas Carols is well done here, no doubt aided by having Roderick Williams on board. I hardly need another recorded version, though.
For those who can't get enough of Vaughan Williams and Christmas, though, add this to your list and check it twice.
A review from 2020
Vaughan Williams’ love of Christmas tunes, particularly God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The First Noel, and some others of varying familiarity, take center stage in three large works for chorus, soloists, and orchestra: the perennial favourite Fantasia on Christmas Carols, the cantata The First Nowell, and the Scrooge-based ballet music On Christmas Night, here getting its premier recording.
The prize here is the unheard music to VW’s 30-minute ballet On Christmas Night. Mostly instrumental, VW still can’t help himself from adding in vocals of God Rest and First Noel. Taking its cues from A Christmas Carol, the ballet mainly takes place at Fezziwig’s dance party with short episodes opening on Scrooge and his ghosts and ending at the Cratchit’s Christmas. The music is pretty jaunty and characterful, and while it might not be a long-lost gem, its absence on record is most surprising and I feel all the better for having heard it.
The First Nowell is a 30-minute, 20-movement collection of Christmas Carols, most of which were unfamiliar to me aside from the titular carol, God Rest again, and the Sussex Carol. VW is most tasteful in his arrangements of these carols, alternating betwixt the chorus and two soloists. And while much of it is rather subdued, the ending First Nowell is well worth the wait, and all of those authentic modal British carols are haunting.
The 12-minute Fantasia on Christmas Carols is VW’s most over-played holiday hit, but boy that opening for baritone in a minor key always catches me as something worth listening to, while never becoming cloying or treacly; I could say as much for the rest of this program. The following episodes end on a more familiar note and this album gives us the string orchestra/pipe organ version without brass.
Sir Richard Hickox certainly gives us quality renditions of this music in very good Chandos sound. The entrances by the City of London Sinfonia in the opening of Fantasia couldn’t be more captivating and the organ is given a decent voice. Hickox’s collaboration with the Joyful Company of Singers, alongside their longtime director Peter Broadbent, were always very good, as they were in their Holst release, also on Chandos . A smaller choral ensemble than is normal in these grandiose chestnuts, JCS is not wanting in any respect, both in musicianship and power. Furthermore, their words are more than easily understood, although the provided accompanying texts with the physical media are always appreciated. The English soloists Sarah Fox and Roderick Williams are natural and not over-powering, both in excellent voice.
As to competing records of this music, there is nowhere else to find On Christmas Night, so this album immediately becomes treasurable for this delightful work alone. A few years after this Chandos release, the London PO came out with their performance of VW’s The First Nowell alongside Mendelssohn’s neglected Christmas cantata Von Himmel Hoch and a Bach Christmas Cantata 63, led by Vladimir Jurowski on LPO’s home label . I think I prefer Hickox’s more flexible, characterful chorus and natural-sounding soloists, although Jurowski’s programming is interesting, the LPO chorus is still good, and Milne and Maltman sing well. Fantasia can be found numerous places, but Barry Rose on Warner Classics has had classic status for many a-year, although Roderick Williams trounces John Barrow’s gruff, soldiering baritone, and the City of London Sinfonia is simply captured in much better quality sound. However, the accompanying Hodie on that EMI release, another yuletide cantata by Vaughan Williams, is well worth everyone’s time, particularly for Willcocks leading the Bach Choir, and soloists Dame Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk. Hickox also recorded Hodie on EMI .
I am a sucker for Christmas music, particularly those by classical masters, and Vaughan Williams always fits the bill for me. His music never aims towards the lowest common denominator and his approachable style is pleasing for the whole family. Chandos and Hickox present a solid performance of this music and the rare On Christmas Night was well worth my time.
Listen on YouTube
Work
On Christmas Night (28.08)
The First Nowell (29.09)
Fantasia on Christmas Carols (12.19)
Soloists
Sarah Fox, soprano
Roderick Williams, baritone
Ensembles
Joyful Company of Singers
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox, conductor
Label: Chandos
Year: 2006
Timing: 69.36
If you love Christmas, and you love the music of Vaughan Williams, you have life made. There is just so much of it!
The only problem would be if you don't like singing. Luckily that is not a problem for me!
Pipe your merry way into The Oozy Keep!
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