Never Trust Pan

 

Especially when the Greek God has a wispy moustache.

The 40-minute Pan's Anniversary plays more as incidental music, with narrating coming from actors Samuel & Timothy West.

I actually had a great time with the work, even if it isn't a new masterpiece from Vaughan Williams.

In addition, four more choral works are presented, one of which is a lost chorus from Vaughan Williams' wonderful Tudor Portraits (BLOG).

As an extra oddity, the composer's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is included. I say oddity, since this one includes singers, not the typical makeup of this famous orchestral work. Even more interestingly, this recording includes the Thomas Tallis choral piece which Vaughan Williams' Fantasia is based on.

A review from 2023

It must have caught me in just the right moment, but I had a jolly time with Pan’s Anniversary from British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst.

Much of the music in Pan is a throwback to the Renaissance, Holst writing much of the early-music instrumental portions, and RVW with the fanfares and four big choruses. The latter are the highlight and meat of the work, reveling in 20th Century orchestral timbres, soloist musings, and full chorus settings.

Gustav Holst’s contributions seem more a curiosity to me, although the medley of folk tunes is a nice touch. The spoken portions are tracked separately for those with a distaste for acting amongst music.

Three more orchestrated choral songs follow the 40-minute Pan’s Anniversary, and a delight they are. Baritone Johnny Herford treads the ‘6th Tudor Portrait’ confidently, and To Sleep! is a mighty choral/orchestral setting. What fun discoveries!

It is neat to hear the titular Thomas Tallis hymn sung before RVW’s Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. This particular arrangement of the Fantasia reminds me of a project the Swingle Singers of yore would have produced, for the vocals take on the orchestral parts in the extreme. Strings are retained for the solo portions, and the whole affair is an impressive vocal feat, but certainly not supplanting the orchestral version.

The Britten Sinfonia is a boon to this recording, and leader William Vann has an obvious love of discovery in his dealings with Vaughan Williams. The soloists are almost too thick and big voiced for Pan’s Anniversary, although it is fun to hear a contralto really have to dig deep into her range. The Clare College Singers are excellent, as are the Albion sonics and the liner notes in the physical media.

 

 

 

 

Soloists
Mary Bevan, soprano
Sophie Bevan, soprano
Jess Dandy, contralto
Johnny Herford, baritone

Samuel West, speaker
Timothy West, speaker

Ensembles
Clare College Choir
Britten Sinfonia
William Vann, conductor

Label: Albion
Year: 2022
Timing: 71.48

 

 

 

Albion Records is great at digging up long lost works from Vaughan Williams.

They are rarely new masterpieces, but the music is always immaculately performed and of great listening interest.

I had a great time with this one!