Hymn-like Carols

 

That is what these sound like.

Luckily, the carols which sound like hymns are given some variety through the pipe organ registrations and Vann's revoicings for verses.

Otherwise, the most appealing for this listener are the Nine Carols for male voices, no doubt due to their familiarity, Wither's Rocking Hymn, and Blake's Cradle Song. Beautiful new works the latter two are for me.

Ever since the Royal Hospital Chapel Choir of Chelsea started recording on Albion, what a wonderful ensemble they have proven to be. In Vaughan Williams, they often have to perform hymn-like songs, with endlessly repetitive verses, yet they take care to focus on beauty, and that is exactly what the listener receives in each of their recordings.

I could imagine some listeners finding this music too simple, and indeed, I cannot revisit this recording too often during the season. Yet, there is plenty of choral beauty to go around.

 

A review from 2023

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ love of Christmas carols comes out in many of his large works for chorus and orchestra. His actual arrangements of carols for choirs heard here, some a cappella and others with pipe organ, are simple affairs sounding not but a hop-skip-and-a-jump from church hymns.

The Nine Carols for Male Voices are perhaps my favorite from this program, probably due to their familiarity, but RVW’s voice writing is less repetitively hymn-like too. In addition, the intimate Wither’s Rocking Hymn and Blake’s Cradle Song are standout works that were new to me.

As with their album Earth’s Wide Bounds on Albion, the Chapel Choir of Royal Hospital Chelsea breathe beauty into these works. Director William Vann varies each multi-verse carol hymn by shifting its vocal makeup on every repeat; sometimes in four part harmony, other times with just men or women, or in unison voices.

Hugh Rowlands’ organ registrations sound well chosen, giving the works well needed timbral variety, while not overwhelming the voices in its cathedral location. Occasional vocal solos come from within the choral ensemble, and while not every voice is to my liking, they all have personality.

An album of Christmas hymns isn’t my idea of great fun for listening, but this is a beautifully performed and produced recording, followed up by An Oxford Christmas on Albion. Not to mention, this is something different for the yuletide season.

 

 

 

Work
Two Carols (4.57)
Nine Carols (25.49)
Eight Traditional Carols (22.53)
Oxford Book of Carols, selections (16.41)

Ensembles
Hugh Rowlands, organ
Royal Hospital Chelsea Chapel Choir
William Vann, conductor

Label: Albion
Year: 2018
Timing: 70.22

 

 

Simple carol settings from Vaughan Williams sung by a beautiful-sounding British choir.

Tastes will decide whether or not this recording gets repeated over the Yuletide season.