Carols from Herefordshire

This remarkable new recording closes an important gap in Ralph Vaughan Williams discography. For the first time, the complete score of the Carols from Herefordshire has been recorded. Let me explain.

During July 1908, RVW met the folklorist Ella Mary Leather (1874-1928) in the quaint Herefordshire village of Weobley. Ella had used a phonograph to record local worthies singing folksongs. The composer’s job was to transcribe these cylinders. He would make further visits in 1912 and 1913.

In 1920 the score of Twelve Traditional Carols from Herefordshire was published by Stainer and Bell. Unusually, it contained two versions: the original for voice and piano and RVW’s arrangement for SATB (four-part choir). The score is prefaced by an explanatory note: “The object of this volume is not scientific but artistic; it is simply to preserve these carols in a form in which they can be sung by those who value our traditional songs and melodies. The Editors have therefore not hesitated (while keeping as much of the original text as possible) to emend corruptions in the words, to correct grammatical errors and to supply missing lines and verses from other sources.” On the other hand, the tunes were transcribed exactly as heard.

The first half of the disc is devoted to the choral version of these carols, whilst the second features the same carols sung by Derek Welton, accompanied on the piano by Iain Burnside.

What of the carols themselves? They fall into various thematic groupings. To be sure, the greater number are concerned with Christmas. In other cases, their theology can be a little stretched, for not only are biblical sources used, but apocryphal lore and a degree of native moralising. Look at The Holy Well, which is heard in two versions. Here, in the underlying legend, the young Jesus drowned his snobbish playmates. Not so in the carol, the story has been bowdlerised, but it is still a treatise of class consciousness. Then there is the poor farmer forced to work On Christmas Day and is struck down by Jesus. Christmas Now is Drawing Near at Hand presents much theological moralising. More traditional fare is found in The Angel Gabriel, New Year’s Carol and Joseph and Mary. The Miraculous Harvest (or The Carnal and the Crane) is based on “mediaeval poems and on apocryphal gospels going back to the first millennium.” The Carnal probably refers to a crow. Of interest is God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, with a vastly different tune to that which we are used to.

Other carols that are not associated with the Season include Dives and Lazarus, The Saviour’s Love and The Seven Virgins.

The present recording has wisely omitted some verses in a few of these carols. This is especially so when they would become a burden for singers and audience alike.

The excellent booklet notes have been assembled by John Francis. They provide a detailed account of the work’s genesis, a biography of Mary Leather, notes on each carol and the texts. Resumes of the performers are included. The CD cover is Vittore Carpaccio’s sumptuous painting, The Flight into Egypt, c. 1515 currently on display in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA.

In 2011, Derek Welton and Iain Burnside recorded the voice and piano edition for Albion Records. It was issued on On Christmas Day – Folk-Carols and Folksongs: Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (ALBCD013, short review here).

William Vann and the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea have already made an important contribution to RWW’s legacy. This includes three Christmas albums: A Vaughan Williams Christmas (ALBCD035, reviewed here), An Oxford Christmas (ALBCD050, reviewed here) and A Christmas Fantasia: Carols and Fantasies (ALBCD063).

The performances by the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea under their director William Vann are exquisite. Equally delightful is Derek Welton’s and Iain Burnside’s rendition of the arrangement for voice and piano.

Despite not all the carols being concerned with the Yuletide Season, this lovely CD makes an ideal Christmas present for all enthusiasts of RVW’s music as well as those who have an ear to the ground for traditional English folksongs.

Track Listing:
Carols from Herefordshire (1920)
For unaccompanied SATB
The Holy Well (First Version)
Solo: Helen Ashby
The Holy Well (Second Version)
Christmas Now Is Drawing Near at Hand
Solo: Jonathan Hanley
Joseph and Mary
Solo: Edward Hughes
The Angel Gabriel
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
New Year’s Carol
Solo: Katy Hill
On Christmas Day
Solo: Eloise Irving
Dives and Lazarus
The Miraculous Harvest
Solos: Eloise Irving, Samuel Jenkins
The Saviour’s Love
The Seven Virgins

For voice and piano
The Holy Well (First Version)
The Holy Well (Second Version)
Christmas Now Is Drawing Near at Hand
Joseph and Mary
The Angel Gabriel
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
New Year’s Carol
On Christmas Day
Dives and Lazarus
The Miraculous Harvest
The Saviour’s Love
The Seven Virgins
Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea/William Vann
Derek Welton (bass-baritone), Iain Burnside (piano)
rec. 12-13 February 2024, Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, London (SATB); 19-21 May 2011 Potton Hall, Suffolk (Voice and piano)
Texts included.
Albion ALBCD064