A Note from the Chairman – February 2022
This year is the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of one of Stanford’s most famous students, Ralph Vaughan Williams. The Vaughan Williams Society is arranging a number of events to mark this anniversary and VW’s music is being played in concerts, churches and recitals throughout the UK and overseas. It is also being featured in a number of UK music festivals. In addition, on October 9th the Royal School of Church Music is sponsoring a Sunday entitled “In Every Corner Sing”, where it is encouraging the singing of VW’s hymn settings and performances of his anthems.
Earlier this year Choir and Organ Magazine came out with a special issue which was completely devoted to VW’s life and music. This magazine also included a CD with selections of VW’s music drawn from the catalogue of Albion Music, the recording arm of the Vaughan Williams Society.
Albion Music, which was founded in 2007, has now released over 50 CDs, most of which feature VW’s music. They have released many first recordings with leading artists and high production standards. The booklets which accompany their CDs have all set a high standard for comprehensive details of the music and including full lyrics of the songs and choral music recorded. This year they have are planning to release eight CDs. Hats off to the Albion Records Chairman, John Francis, a fellow Chartered Accountant and lover of English music, for his vision, enthusiasm and financial stewardship to make Albion Music such a success.
Albion has recently released two new CDs. The first, (ALBCD051) Earth’s Wide Bounds, is of VW Choral works. This includes the first complete recording of the English version of the Communion Service in G together with several anthems and hymns. VW is well known for his editing of the English Hymnal, which first appeared in 1907. In this he included a number of his own arrangements including For All the Saints, He who would Valiant be and Come Down O Love Divine, which are all included on this new CD. The excellent singing on this recording is by the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea under their Director, Willian Vann.
The second CD recently released by Albion is entitled Transcriptions from Truro (ALBCD049). This features the organist David Briggs playing organ transcriptions of three of VW’s compositions. These are the Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus, The Lark Ascending (where he is joined by the violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck), and his own transcription of the Symphony Number 5. This is an interesting recording, made in Truro Cathedral. This is a first recording of The Lark Ascending with organ accompaniment.
One further Albion CD to note is ALBCD009. This is a 2 CD set entitled Music in the Heart. This includes an edited version of a broadcast talk given by VW on The Teachings of Stanford and Parry on November 17,1955, as well as a recording of VW conducting his Serenade to Music.
More details of the concerts and other events surrounding the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of VW’s birth can be found on the Vaughan Williams Society website.
