Ralph Vaughan Williams
Traditional English Carols (8)
Works Info
Composer:Ralph Vaughan WilliamsGenre:MiscellaneousCompose Date:1919Average_duration:26:27Movement_count:8Movement ....Ralph Vaughan Williams, a renowned English composer, arranged a collection of eight traditional English carols for choir and orchestra. The collection was composed in 1919 and premiered in the same year at the Royal College of Music in London. The eight carols included in the collection are "The truth from above," "Come all you worthy gentlemen," "On Christmas night all Christians sing," "The Sussex Carol," "The First Nowell," "While shepherds watched their flocks," "The Cherry Tree Carol," and "God rest you merry, gentlemen." Each carol has its unique characteristics, but they all share a common theme of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The first carol, "The truth from above," is a lively and joyful song that tells the story of the Nativity. "Come all you worthy gentlemen" is a more solemn carol that praises the birth of Christ and encourages people to follow his example. "On Christmas night all Christians sing" is a traditional English carol that dates back to the 16th century. It is a joyful song that celebrates the birth of Christ and the coming of the shepherds to the manger. "The Sussex Carol" is another traditional English carol that tells the story of the Nativity and the joy that it brings. "The First Nowell" is a well-known carol that tells the story of the shepherds who were visited by an angel and told of the birth of Christ. "While shepherds watched their flocks" is another popular carol that tells the same story. "The Cherry Tree Carol" is a unique carol that tells the story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. According to the carol, Mary asks Joseph to pick her some cherries from a tree, and when he refuses, the tree bends down to give her the fruit. This miracle convinces Joseph of Mary's purity and the divine nature of her child. Finally, "God rest you merry, gentlemen" is a traditional English carol that wishes peace and joy to all during the Christmas season. Overall, Vaughan Williams' collection of traditional English carols is a beautiful and timeless tribute to the joy and wonder of the Christmas season.More....
