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- Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Duration: 13 minutes
Description: Fantasia on Christmas Carols was composed in 1912 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) and stands as one of the composer’s most beloved expressions of English folk-inspired sacred music. Written for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra, the work draws upon several traditional English Christmas carols — including “The Truth Sent from Above,” “Come All You Worthy Gentlemen,” and “On Christmas Night” — which Vaughan Williams had encountered during his extensive folk-song collecting throughout rural England. The piece premiered on September 4, 1912, at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford Cathedral, conducted by the composer, showcasing the early 20th-century revival of English musical nationalism and renewed interest in native folk traditions. Rather than simply arranging carols, Vaughan Williams weaves them into a continuous, richly atmospheric meditation on the Nativity, blending modal harmonies (E Phrygian) with expansive orchestral sonorities. Fantasia on Christmas Carols remains a cornerstone of the Christmas choral repertoire, frequently performed during the holiday season. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1): Org: Str (4.4.3.3.3 in set): Solo Bar: Mixed Chor (SATB). Reprint edition. The corresponding vocal score is available from LudwigMasters’ Well Tempered Press (W727791).