The choral repertoire of Christmas music owes a debt to Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). In our own parish, we often sing “O little town of Bethlehem” to the tune FOREST GREEN, one of many folk tunes that Vaughan Williams adapted for use in the 1906 edition of The English Hymnal (read the whole story of that project here). Choir of the Queen’s College, Oxford; Owen Rees, conductor In 1912, after Vaughan Williams had completed a period of research for the Folk-Song Society and the editing of The English Hymnal, he composed his Fantasia on Christmas Carols, a work for baritone soloist, choir, and orchestra. His engagement with traditional tunes and…
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O God, our help in ages past
Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Music: William Croft (1678-1727) Tune name: ST. ANNE THE TEXT Written in 1714 by Isaac Watts, this hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. Originally published with nine verses, most hymnals (including ours) include only six. In Great Britain, this hymn is regarded by many as a second National Anthem. Ian Bradley, in The Book of Hymns, writes It is said that when Dr. Benjamin Jowett, that most eminent Victorian who was master of Balliol College, asked a group of fellow Oxford dons to note down their list of favourite hymns, all of them independently put down just this one, which each felt fulfilled all…
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For all the saints
Text: William Walsham How (1823-1897)Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)Tune name: SINE NOMINE THE TEXT The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to believers who were tempted to abandon their faith. The text reflects realism and hope. In the tenth chapter, the recipients of the letter are reminded that they had “endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.” In verse 34, we read that these Christians “had compassion on those in prison, and “joyfully accepted” the plundering of their property. Despite this evidence of their faithfulness in the past, they still had need of better confidence…
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Taught by melodious sonnets
by Ken Myers [This article originally appeared in the November/December 2017 issue of Touchstone magazine.] No composer in the twentieth century had a greater influence on the English-speaking church’s musical life — and on the presence of sacred texts in concert halls — than did Ralph Vaughan Williams. Born in 1872 to an English rector and the great-granddaughter of the potter Josiah Wedgwood, young Ralph (rhymes with “safe”) studied piano and violin as a boy. At 18, he enrolled in the Royal College of Music before going on to Trinity College, Cambridge. In both settings he was tutored in composition by some of the giants of English Church music in…
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Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
RECOMMENDED READING Vaughan Williams’s experience editing the 1906 English Hymnal is discussed in the article “Taught by melodious sonnets.” Hymns by Ralph Vaughan Williams in our Hymnal At the name of Jesus Come down O love divine For all the saints Hail thee, festival day Lift up your hearts Master of eager youth O Jesus crowned with all renown O God of earth and altar O little town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) There is a land of pure delight When Jesus left his Father’s throne Works by Ralph Vaughan Williams in the All Saints Choir repertoire The blessed Son of God The great Forerunner of the morn O taste and see