Monday, 3 June 2019

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre for string orchestra

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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