Albion's Pursuit of Vaughan Williams

 

The label has unearthed much from the composer.

I have treasured exploring their offerings over the years. Even if the composer's rare music didn't capture my heart, I feel better for having heard it.

Where Hope is Shining is an early recording from Albion, the first I had heard.

Now in 2025, the RVW label has found better advocates for his choral music. The Joyful Company of Singers isn't as strong here, nor does the acoustic do them many favors. I have enjoyed this ensemble in the past, and while they perform just fine, there is better elsewhere.

 

A review from 2023

An early entry from the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society recording label Albion, many treasures await those eager to hear RVW’s choral music.

The opening madrigals, such as Ring Out Ye Bells, offer nice textural contrast to the program, while the collection of folk songs in the middle of the album offer a bit of wit and lyrical modalisms. The final Sun, Moon, Stars, and Man is the big news here, with words from Ursula Vaughan Williams, a companion work to The Sons of Light.

The Turtle Dove, Rest, Linden Lea, and Loch Lomond are among the well-known pieces from the British composer. As beautiful as they are tuneful, RVW hides complexities through vocal beauty. Director Peter Broadbent takes Rest quite swiftly and Norwegian baritone Ørjan Hartveit is heartfelt enough in Turtle Dove.

There are a number of songs only found on this recording. Of these, Echo’s Lament for Narcissus is a standout, and The Mermaid is a hoot-and-a-half. While I like The New Commonwealth, a later recording on Albion for men’s chorus is much more memorable.

The 27-member Joyful Company of Singers is a stalwart ensemble, but have small issues of tuning and balance. The opening Sonnet is an example, where they just cannot quite lock in the harmonies towards the end; these occasions are rare though. The sonics are OK; I don’t much care for the distant cathedral acoustic, although the ears do adjust.

Much of this program was covered by the Quink vocal quintet on Vanguard, although they sound quite different. The Holst Singers on Hyperion cover a goodly amount of overlap too.

But Albion provides enough rarities to make Albion’s Where Hope is Shining worth the effort. Not my favorite RVW choral album, but there are more positives than not.

 

 

Performers
Joyful Company of Singers
Peter Broadbent, conductor

Label: Albion
Year: 2008
Timing: 62.18

 

 

 

A lovely choral disc, if not the finest representative of Vaughan Williams.

Albion should be congratulated for stirring up so much rare music from the composer nonetheless.