Vaughan Williams at Cambridge

 

And a resurrection of the composer's Doctoral studies Mass.

This is all fine music from a young Vaughan Williams, but not anything to write home about.

So too, the performances are more than adequate, caught here in a live performance. The best comes from the fabulous Bach Choir, while it takes the vocal soloists a while to cohere as a quartet.

Filling out the program is Hubert Parry's famous Blest Pair of Sirens, a bit of heroism to send the listener off.

 

A review from 2023

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 45-minute doctoral submission A Cambridge Mass may not be a new masterpiece, but it is a most interesting early work. VW eschews the Kyrie, Gloria, and Agnus Dei in order to focus on the Credo and Sanctus sequences, with a lengthy orchestral Offertory betwixt them.

Much of the Credo is bold and brassy, giving a coronation feel throughout its 23 minutes. I was often reminded of the Baroque, specifically Handel, but I am sure many of these textures comes from the specific University requirements for VW's doctoral composition.

The Intermezzo for orchestra is pure Vaughan Williams, though. His use of winds, the harmonic developments, and the utilization of themes scream out his name. The following Sanctus sequence is the musically devotional centerpiece of the work, beautifully laid out for a cappella double chorus.

I am not a huge fan of Hubert Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens, but since A Cambridge Mass doesn’t end with an exclamation point, it is programmed well here.

The recorded premier of VW’s Mass is led by devotee Alan Tongue, and the sense of occasion comes out on this recording. The Bach Choir is on hand, who handles the double chorus work strongly. The four vocal soloists as a quartet never real congeal until the Benedictus, but fortunately are not a huge role.

This is a live recording, although one only notices from the shuffling between movements and the applause at the music’s conclusion. The New Queen’s Hall Orchestra plays well enough, but one notices some under-rehearsed or live-occasion blots and mis-tunings; a place or two where the chorus is unexpectedly stretched too.

But a new Mass setting from Vaughan Williams, one leading up to his first choral symphony 'A Sea Symphony', is an exciting ordeal. Albion’s liner notes are generous, and the live recorded sound is good too. Recommended to Vaughan Williams devotees and fanboys.

 

 

 

Works
Ralph Vaughan Williams
    A Cambridge Mass (45.09)
Hubert Parry
    Blest Pair of Sirens (10.53)

Soloists
Olivia Robinson, soprano
Rebecca Lodge, contralto
Christopher Bowen, tenor
Edward Price, baritone

Ensembles
The Bach Choir
New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Alan Tongue, conductor

Label: Albion
Year: 2014
Timing: 56.13

 

 

 

Definitely for stalwart fans of Vaughan Williams only. 

There may not be treasures to be mined here, but hearing the composer's youthful music being reignited has its merits.