December Press Release

On behalf of the Trustees and Officers of the RVW Society, may I take this opportunity to wish you a happy, prosperous and harmonious Christmas and New Year. And in case you are needing ideas for last-minute Christmas gifts, here are a few suggestions:

Folk Songs of the Four Seasons
Albion Records, the Society's recording arm has launched this release of two major Vaughan Williams works, both of which are world-premiere recordings. They are Folk Songs of the Four Seasons and In Windsor Forest in the arrangement for women's voices by Guthrie Foote. The Dmitri Ensemble, English Voices and the choir of Clare College, Cambridge are conducted by Sir David Willcocks. Sir David has a long and distinguished relationship with the music of Vaughan Williams and Albion is delighted that he has added to his repertoire these significant works in this his 90th birthday year.
Folk Songs of the Four Seasons is on Albion ALB CD 010 and is priced at £10.00 plus £1.80 postage and packing, available from:
Mark Hammett,7 Endsleigh Road, Merstham, Redhill, Surrey RH1 3LX
Click here to email Albion: albionmrh@btinternet.com

Piano Concerto now available!
Members recently attended a joint RVW Society/Naxos Drinks' Reception at Steinway Hall, Marylebone to launch the new recording of the Piano Concerto with Ashley Wass, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and James Judd conducting. The recording is 'Reviewer's Choice' in Gramophone Magazine (December), and includes the English Folksong Suite, The Wasps Overture and The Running Set. Available now from the Naxos website at:
http://www.naxosdirect.co.uk/Vaughan-Williams-Piano-Concerto-Piano-Concerto-The-Wasps-English-Folk-Song-Suite---Sc/title/8572304/

Stop Press: Dutton release Heroic Elegy & Triumphal Epilogue!
If you missed the Halle Orchestra's recent performance of VW's early work Heroic Elegy and Triumphal Epilogue on BBC Radio 3 recently, a recording is now available on the Dutton label, (CDLX 7237), and can be ordered from their website: http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=CDLX7237
Other composers featured on this disc include: Alwyn, York Bowen, and Parry.
BBC Concert Orchestra, The London Chorus, Ronald Corp (chorus master), John Wilson (conductor)
A review of the Halle concert can be found at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/hallelder-bridgewater-hall-manchester-1801695.html

Oxford University Press RVW special promotion
For members of the RVW Society, Oxford University Press offer a special promotional 20% discount off the following publications:

Letters of Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1895-1958
Edited by Hugh Cobb

Vaughan Williams on Music
Edited by David Manning

For more information please click here:

A Life in Music: Conversations with Sir David Willcocks and Friends
Edited by William Owen
304 pages 978-0-19-336063-1 2008 £19.99
'Essential reading for anyone remotely interested in choral music.' Classical Music
Fascinating life story of pre-eminent 20th-century choral musician
Includes CD with many of Sir David's famous recordings
Absorbing anecdotes of many famous composers, performances, institutions, and musical events.
Tells the story of the genesis of the famous Carols for Choirs series.
Book weaves a central narrative with Sir David, with each chapter followed by reflections from friends and colleagues.
Told in a series of interviews with Sir David Willcocks and rounded out with reflections from a roll-call of eminent composers, musicians, and friends, this book presents a portrait of a highly gifted musician whose leadership, decency, and humanity have inspired countless singers to follow his example and live a life rich in music. Includes CD with many of Sir David's famous recordings.
Click here for web page:

Finally, membership of the RVW Society makes a great gift and lasts all-year. We'll even include a £5 voucher off an Albion publication or CD for all new members!

There are plenty of Vaughan Williams' concerts to look forward to in the New Year, click here:
Here are just a few:

23 January
Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral Holocaust Day Concert
Dona Nobis Pacem
Karl Jenkins - Choral suite from 'The Armed Man'
Julius Reubke - Psalm for organ
Mark Dancer, Organ
Cartrine Kirkman, Soprano
Portsmouth Festival Choir
Conducted by Andrew Cleary
click here for web site

13 February
St John's, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA
Songs of Travel
Dominic Argento - The Andree Expedition
Mark Stone, Baritone
Stephen Barlow, Piano
T: 0207 222 1061
web site

28 - 31 May
English Music Festival, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
The 2010 Festival will include a 'Come and Sing' event featuring Vaughan Williams's Five Mystical Songs.
Other highlights will include a brass band concert to include works by Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bantock and Percy Fletcher,
and choral concerts from the Elysian Singers and Syred Consort.
The Orchestra of St Paul's will perform works by Warlock, Paul Carr, Elgar, Purcell and Armstrong Gibbs.
We also plan a semi-staged performance of Holst's staggeringly powerful opera Savitri.
The Tippett Quartet will be launching their new CD with a concert including a quartet by Sir Donald Tovey.
Audiences will also see the return of Early Music ensemble Joglaresa, Oxford Liedertafel, and Hilary Davan Wetton with the City of London Choir.
The full programme will be available soon on The English Music Festival website. Click here for more details:

10 August
Gloucester - Three Choirs Festival
Tallis Fantasia
Celebrating the centenary of the first performance in Gloucester Cathedral conducted by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Also Holst St Pauls Suite
Elgar Violin Concerto
Sir Roger Norrington (conductor)

More concerts are listed on the RVW website.
With best wishes,
Karen.

Karen Fletcher
Publicity Officer: RVW Society