R. Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols 1/2

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958):
Fantasia on Christmas Carols (1912)
Part 1 of 2

The video shows the Monteverdi Choir Würzburg and the Mainphilharmonie Würzburg with their conductor Matthias Beckert at the Christmas concert on December 14, 2008 in the Neubaukirche Würzburg, Germany.


Baritone:
This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love:
Therefore dont turn me from your door,
But hearken all, both rich and poor.

The first thing which I will relate
Is that God did man create,
The next thing which to you Ill tell,
Woman was made with man to dwell.

Then, after this, twas Gods own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain, from evil free,
Except they ate of such a tree.

And they did eat, which was a sin,
And thus their ruin did begin.
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.

Choir and Baritone:
Thus we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose,
And so a promise soon did run,
That he would redeem us by his Son.

Choir:
Come all you worthy gentlemen,
that may be standing by,
Christ our blessed Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day.
The blessed Virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did pray.
O we wish you the comfort
And tidings of joy!

Christ our Blessed Saviour
Now in the manger lay.
He's lying in the manger,
While the oxen feed on hay.
The blessed Virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did pray.
O we wish you the comfort
And tidings of joy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ralph
• Vaughan
• Williams
• fantasia
• Christmas
• Carols
• Monteverdi
• Chor
• Choir
• Monteverdichor
• Würzburg
• Mainphilharmonie
• Matthias
• Beckert
• Weihnachten
• Romantik
• Romantisches
• Weihnachtskonzert
• christmas
• concert

[rclikes2go]

Not christmas for me without this!

[gayoperadude63]

to me he sounds like a tenor

[jthameschoir]

@tombaker1222 Who said I did it to EVERY soloist?

[tombaker1222]

@jthameschoir He's German, singing English and it's a very Germanic sounding voice too, so I wouldn't stereotype EVERY soloist with that.

[coolwainy]

Yea why's the soloist so sharp?

[bmcondon]

@gavman93 Gavin. Ouch.

[65renaissanceman]

@DavidMJordan RVW was in fact a prominent member of EFDSS - the English Folk Dance and Song Society - and did quite a lot for the preservation of English folk songs. He was also a contributing editor to "The English Hymnal" - still widely used in "catholic-style" Church of England churches. It's possibly difficult to underestimate his influence in several directions. BUT OMG - the Fantasia is NOT as easy as it sounds - as with so much of his music! I hate him sometimes...

[65renaissanceman]

@jthameschoir Maybe they're just trying too hard, or just not good enough to carry it off properly. In my more frustrated moments as a bass singer in a choir I sometimes think that Vaughan Williams was only ever put on this earth to make life difficult for choirs - his stuff is NOT easy. I have fond memories of "The truth from above" though - in my former church we often used it as the processional hymn at Christmas carol services.

[jthameschoir]

What's with all these soloists that sound like they have frogs in their throats? And why so much vibrato? I guess its the audio, it makes me so irritated to hear his voice. But I love the choir and orchestra! Great job.