Ralph
Vaughan Williams wrote comparatively few works for the organ - or piano for
that matter. The most important and impressive piece is the Prelude
and Fugue in C minor composed in the early
nineteen-twenties. However, his Prelude
on ‘Rhosymedre’ is the most popular and
best known. Vaughan Williams wrote the ‘Three Preludes founded on
Welsh Hymn Tunes’ in 1920, the same year as The
Lark Ascending. Their titles were 1) Bryn Calfaria 2) Rhosymedre and 3)
Hyfrydol. They were originally meant to be played as a series however organists
often tend to play them individually. The Preludes were dedicated to the
composer and organist Alan Gray (1855-1935).
In 1951 Arnold Foster (1896?-1963) published a version of the second and
third Preludes for small or string orchestra.
The village of Rhosymedre
is in the borough of Wrexham in Wales. The hymn-tune used by Vaughan Williams as the
basis for this present prelude was written by J.D. Edwards (1805-1885) vicar of the parish from 1843 until his
death in 1885. This tune is
sometimes known as ‘Lovely’ however this refers to its use in the Samuel
Crossman hymn ‘My Song is Love Unknown’ in Songs
of Praise and is not a translation of the word ‘Rhosymedre’.
The form of the Prelude
on ‘Rhosymedre’ is based largely on that of the chorale prelude popular with
the German baroque organ composers such as Pachelbel and Bach. After a short introduction
which defines the accompanying motive, the hymn-tune is heard on the violas.
This is repeated by the violins before a short bridge leads to a reprise of the
opening bars. The texture of the prelude
is largely polyphonic. Part of the pleasure of ‘Rhosymedre’ is the glorious
counter melodies which seem to evolve naturally from the tune or possibly the
other way round. The piece is played ‘andantino’ throughout.
There is a lovely version
of Rhosymedre played by an unnamed string orchestra on YouTube.
With thanks to the English Music Festival where
this short essay was first published.
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