A Curious Combination

 

Both Vocal and Orchestral are programmed together.

This recording seems to contain odds and ends thrown together.

The Three Impressions for Orchestra and The Mayor of Casterbridge are the incentives to explore more.

The former triptych provides the gentle folksiness so loved by Vaughan Williams admirers, but without much in the way of tunes, and the latter shares a bit of wit without any real development or substance. The links to the Prelude on an Old Carol Tune and the brief Weyhill Fair Song are interesting, though.

The vocal works here come with orchestra, although I am not wild about the soloists, particularly a mismatched Andrew Kennedy in the Four Hymns. I wouldn't say not to seek this recording out, for there is fine playing from Liverpool, yet know deep satisfaction could vary.

 

 A review from 2023

Two rare works are presented on this Vaughan Williams album entitled The Solent. Three Impressions for Orchestra (including the titular Solent), and the incidental music to The Mayor of Casterbridge, played alongside its sister compositions the Weyhill Fair Song and the Prelude on an Old Carol Tune.

The Three Impressions are early works from the British composer. To my ears, they sound like precursors to his Norfolk Rhapsodies, three of which were released on Dutton, but without the striking folksong sensibilities. They pass by lyrically and gently, with occasional orchestral outbursts.

The Mayor of Casterbridge is made up of three orchestral pieces as well, although more impressive are the accoutrement alongside Mayor: the cheekily sung Weyhill Fair Song from baritone Roland Wood and the more famous Prelude on an Old Carol Tune. The latter uses a folk song also used in Mayor, but is more impressively presented in Prelude.

As a bit of filler, the orchestrated version of Vagabond, Roadside Fire, and Bright is the Ring of Words, the finest songs from the sets from Songs of Travel, are also included. Roland Woods burly baritone is fully on display, although orchestrated sets of the complete Songs of Travel are easier to find nowadays.

I do like the ecstatically religious Four Hymns for tenor and viola. Here it is cushioned by a string orchestra instead of piano and string quintet. Unfortunately, British tenor Andrew Kennedy seems to think he is in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical whilst singing these, providing a lot of loud glitz and glamour. I prefer Ian Partridge’s dreamier approach on EMI, or better yet, Philip Langridge also on EMI. Some may enjoy Kennedy’s more broadly appealing, gregarious singing though.

An odd collection of works from Ralph Vaughan Williams; the orchestral works bear the interest here, although the solo singers are good too. Albion catches Paul Daniel and the RLPO beautifully, and the liner notes are typically thorough. A light recommendation recognizing that the orchestral treasures are not to be missed over the more common vocal contributions, which can be found elsewhere.

 

 

 

Works
Three Impressions (24.11)
Songs of Travel: Book 1 (7.11)
Four Hymns (15.49)
Weyhill Fair Song (0.41)
Mayor of Casterbridge (6.42)
Prelude on an Old Carol Tune (5.24)

Soloists
Andrew Kennedy, tenor
Roland Wood, baritone
Nicholas Bootiman, viola

Ensembles
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Paul Daniel, conductor

Label: Albion
Year: 2013
Timing: 57.12

 

 

 

Another Albion release for the Vaughan Williams devotee.

The program contains a little bit of this and a little bit of that, some vocal, some orchestra.

Liverpool sounds great, though, even if the soloists are not favorites in this music.