Boult, Davies, and Willcocks

 

A British conducting triumvirate.

The main interest for me is the rare Oxford Elegy. It is an orchestral poem which features narration from John Westbrook.

There are actually a handful of recordings of this work available, with speaking roles having been doled out over the years to Jeremy Irons, Simon Callow, and Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson. Westbrook represents the classic rendering of Oxford.

The piano variations based on the Old 104th is another not-oft heard concertante work, which strangely has a chorus appear in it, here given a rather fine outing from pianist Peter Katin.

An OK performance of Flos Campi with Cecil Aronowitz saddles this recording somewhat negatively, yet hearing Watts with the Ambrosian Singers in Vaughan Williams' Magnificat elevates this recording.

A review from 2023

These four choral/orchestral works by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams seem curiosities to these ears. Mysterious and atmospheric, they also seem to step outside of the mainstream and showcase RVW as a modern composer, experimenting with sounds and forms.

While each work here contains chorus, often they are used as an orchestral voice. Flos Campi is a Suite for viola, An Oxford Elegy for narrator and orchestra, and the Fantasia on the Old 104th Psalm Tune is interrupted by piano cadenzas galore. Even the Magnificat would seem out of place in the church, for it is as sensual as it is celebratory.

This would not be the recording of Flos Campi I would personally hitch my post too; the balances are too much, particularly for Aronowitz’s viola, although the use of boy trebles in the chorus adds to its unusual atmosphere.

The main interest for me lies in the rare works offered alongside Flos Campi. An Oxford Elegy is a wistful orchestral work for the town and college, and John Westbrook’s deep recitations add to the bucolic nostalgia. Helen Watts is the star of the Magnificat, as is the array of percussion dragged out for the 13-minute work.

The 104th Psalm Fantasia and Variations is an odd duck, but mightily performed by Boult & Co. A piano concerto with choral flourishes, the London Philharmonic forces do the music no disservices, and provide the rather ruminative program some contrasting musical splashes.

The performances here sound good for hailing from the late 60’s and early 70’s. These works have since been remastered on EMI minus the Fantasia. Either way, this is an interesting collection of works for those wanting to deep dive into Vaughan Williams’ hidey holes.

 

 

 

 

Work
Magnificat (6.28)
Flos Campi
An Oxford Elegy (36.23)
Fantasia on the Old 104th (32.17)

Soloists
Helen Watts, contralto
Cecil Aronowitz, viola
Peter Katin, piano
John Westbrook, narrator

Ensembles
Ambrosian Singers
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
London Philharmonic Choir

Orchestra Nova of London
    Meredith Davies, conductor
Jacques Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Sir David Willcocks, conductor

Label: EMI
Year: 1969-71; 1989
Timing: 69.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If these pairings of Vaughan Williams works don't impress, there are other EMI releases of these same performances with different items.

While I don't care for this performance of Flos Campi, the rest each have a unique musical attribute, led by British luminaries at the podium.