A Christmas Fantasia: Carols and Fantasies

A Christmas Fantasia: Carols and Fantasies

ALBCD063 (Albion Records, CD)

FIRST RELEASE (11 October 2024)

Playing time: 64'29"
Tracks: 17
Booklet pages: 28
℗ 2024 Albion Records
© 2024 Albion Records
Main country of recording: United Kingdom
Reviewer: Gerald Fenech
Review of A Christmas Fantasia: Carols and Fantasies published on 29 October 2024

Ashley Riches, bass-baritone (tracks 5, 11 and 17)
Jonathan Hanley, solo (track 1)
Leah Jackson, solo (track 13)
Lorna Price, solo (track 13)
Edward Hughes, solo (track 13)
Thomas Stoddart, solo (track 13)
Jack Comerford, solo (track 13)
Eloise Irving, solo (track 16)
Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Jamie Andrews, organ (tracks 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 17)
William Vann, director

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

1 Christmas Now is Drawing Near at Hand

Herbert Howells:

2 Here Is the Little Door

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

3 The Blessed Son of God

John Ireland:

4 The Holy Boy

Rebecca Clarke:

5 There Is No Rose

6 Ave Maria

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

7 Christmas Hymn

William Vann:

8 Carol

Armstrong Gibbs:

9 While the Shepherds Were Watching

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

10 Wassail Song

Gerald Finzi:

11 The Brightness of This Day

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

12 No Sad Thought

Gustav Holst:

13 Christmas Day

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

14 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

Elizabeth Maconchy:

15 Nowell, Nowell, Nowell

Ralph Vaughan Williams:

16 On Christmas Day

17 Fantasia on Christmas Carols

A Christmas Fantasia is a collection of carols and fantasias written (mainly) by Ralph Vaughan Williams and his friends and former students. The exception is a new carol composed by the album's director, William Vann, setting a poem by Ivor Gurney. The two most substantial works are Vaughan Williams' own Fantasia on Christmas Carols, which has never ceased to be popular since it was first produced in 1912, and Gustav Holst's Christmas Day, a 'choral fantasy on old carols' from 1910. There are shorter works by Holst himself and by Herbert Howells, John Ireland, Rebecca Clarke, Armstrong Gibbs, Gerald Finzi, Elizabeth Maconchy and William Vann. William Vann conducts the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The choir regularly records for Albion Records and featured on two very successful earlier Christmas collections: ALBCD035 A Vaughan Williams Christmas, and ALBCD050 An Oxford Christmas. The bass-baritone Ashley Riches contributes solos for the 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols' and two other works, while other solo voices are drawn from the choir. Organ accompaniment is provided as required by Jamie Andrews. The songs in this collection present a picture of 'carols for choirs' from the early twentieth century up to 1961, when a book of that name began another revolution, and several of these carols were incorporated within it. The conductor and pianist William Vann is recognised in particular for his acclaimed revivals of neglected works of British choral music and song and is Director of Music at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. His eight recordings with the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea have included first recordings of works by Elgar, Holst and Vaughan Williams and he has made studio recordings of Parry's Judith and Prometheus Unbound. The Royal Hospital Chelsea has been since 1692 the home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners, who are retired soldiers of the British Army. The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital is one of the finest professional church choirs in the UK, whose primary purpose is to sing at the Sunday morning Matins service in the Wren Chapel.

Recorded 12-13 February 2024 at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square, London, UK.

 

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