Disaster Awaits!

 

Based on a true story.

While Vaughan Williams may be the headliner composer on this recording, it is actually Patrick Hadley's cantata Fen and Flood which impresses.

Lured by the historic flooding of the fens, Hadley musically paints a picture of a community before a natural disaster strikes. While there is some action of the latter, it is the slice-of-life aspect which we spend time with.

Flood is not a long work though, so the short musical portraits come and go rather pleasingly.

Vaughan Williams' Garden of Proserpine is darker and thicker music, with vocals from Jane Irwin. The composer's In the Fen Country ties together with the cantata location, reminding me of Vaughan Williams' gentler melancholic landscape compositions. The real find, though, is Hadley's Fen and Flood.

 

 

A review from 2023

Some early works from British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams are here paired with Patrick Hadley’s 20-minute Fen and Flood, a cantata inspired by the events of a massive flood in Norfolk in the 1950’s.

Despite the horrific nature of a natural disaster, much of Hadley’s Fen and Flood covers the comings and goings of a community, with the flood arriving in the penultimate movement. It is a quirky work, reminding me musically of a mix of William Walton’s mighty Belshazzar’s Feast and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Colourful orchestrations that bandy between rich percussive effects and spare instrumental combinations. The choruses are rustic flavoured and the two soloists have quite a bit to do, particularly the baritone. It is the hit of this recording, and while an odd companion to RVW, works thematically, I suppose.

RVW’s In the Fen County reminds me of his Norfolk Rhapsodies, found gathered together on Dutton. Lyrical, with a folksy twinge, beauty, and some elements of heroism, wins the day. Garden of Proserpine has grown on me, although at 25 minutes, still seems too long. The final a cappella solo for baritone, The Captain’s Apprentice, is a strange note to end the program, for it is a most unfortunate tale.

The Bournemouth SO sounds great, and the soloists perform splendidly. The Joyful Company of Singers are very good here too, a mixed chorus who are able to change gears between the solemn Garden versus the raucous Flood with character.

Not essential Vaughan Williams, but the Hadley cantata is a winner. Albion’s liner notes and sonics are splendid as well.

 

 

 

Works
Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Garden of Proserpine (24.32)
    In the Fen Country (14.40)
    Captain's Apprentice (2.09)
Patrick Hadley
    Fen and Flood (11.02)

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

 

 

 

 

If I enjoyed the works from Vaughan Williams more, this recording would be a hit out of the ballpark.

But, I will happily extol the virtues of Patrick Hadley's cantata Fen and Flood.