Ralph Vaughan Williams - Hodie (3/6)

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Hodie (This Day) - A Christmas Cantata (1953-54)
for soloists, chorus, boys' choir, organ and orchestra

I. Prologue: Nowell! Nowell!
II. Narration: Now the birth of Jesus Christ
III. Song: It was the winter wild
IV. Narration: And it came to pass in those days
V. Choral: The blessed son of God
VI. Narration: And there were in the same country 0:00
VII. Song: The Oxen (Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock) 6:55
VIII. Narration: And the shepherds returned
IX. Pastoral: The shepherds sing
X. Narration: But Mary kept all these things
XI. Lullaby Sweet was the song the Virgin sang
XII. Hymn: Bright portals of the sky
XIII. Narration: Now when Jesus was born
XIV. The March of Three Kings: From kingdoms od wisdom
XV. Choral: No sad throught his soul affright
XVI. Epilogue: In the begnning was the Word

Margaret Marshall, Stephen Roberts, Elizabeth Gale & Robert Tear
London Symphony Chorus & Choristers of St Pauls Cathedral
London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ralph
• vaughan
• williams
• hodie
• this
• day
• christmas
• cantata
• nativity
• choral

[proudaltome]

The proclaiming angel's character here so transcends the usual saccharine stuff--this is a powerful being from another realm, not a fluffy pink thing with sparkly wings! Followed by the earthy warmth of "The Oxen", this is perfection of mood in music.

[philipvanlidth]

Ah, but this would demand that they pay attention while that shopping mall Dreck (Christmas Musak) is plain background music that doesn't interfere with their shopping concentration. Let's face it, people don't want anything in the background that will require something of them when they're shopping. They want to concentrate on the activity at hand. Sad but true...

[msartteacher6]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! And to think people listen to that awful shopping mall dreck in December when they could be listening to this...