Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was one of the 20th Century's greatest composers. His nine symphonies stand as his towering achievement, but his other music was no less important - whether written for amateur or professional performance.
His agnosticism didn't stop him from embracing religious music and themes, and throughout his long career secular and religious music co-existed with a humanist belief tying them together. The last of Vaughan Williams' major choral works was the Christmas Cantata Hodie (or This Day), dating from 1953/4, and first performed at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester Cathedral in September 1954. Written for a large orchestra and chorus, with Boys Choir and three soloists, Hodie combines texts from various sources to illustrate the Christmas story. Its 16 parts include a narration sung by the boys choir to link movements together.
This Columbia recording dates from early 1965 and has David Willcocks conducting the Bach Choir and Choristers of Westminster Abbey, with Richard Lewis, Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk, and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Other music by Vaughan Williams on this blog can be found here.
Cartridge: Ortofon Synergy GM SPU MC
Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC
Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R
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