Overview

The Choral-Orchestral Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Autographs, Context, Discourse combines contextual knowledge, a musical commentary, an inventory of the holograph manuscripts, and a critical assessment of the opus to create substantial and meticulous examinations of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s choral-orchestral works. The contents include an equitable choice of pieces from the various stages in the life of the composer and an analysis of pieces from the various stages of Williams’s life. The earliest are taken from the pre-World War I years, when Vaughan Williams was constructing his identity as an academic and musician—Vexilla Regis (1894), Mass (1899), and A Sea Symphony (1910). The middle group are chosen from the interwar period—Sancta Civitas (1925), Benedicite (1929), Magnificat (1932), Five Tudor Portraits (1935), Dona nobis pacem (1936)—written after Vaughan Williams had found his mature voice. The last cluster—Thanksgiving for Victory (1944), Fantasia (Quasi Variazione) on the ‘Old 104’ Psalm Tune (1949), Sons of Light (1950), Hodie (1954), The Bridal Day/Epithalamion (1938/1957)—typify the works finished or revisited during the final years of the composer’s life, near the end of the Second World War and immediately before or after his second marriage (1953).

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9781793606020

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Reviews

Until now, the British Museum has long been the one-stop shop to pore over RVW's autographs in all their messy, convoluted glory. From wielding a pocketknife to erase inked-in passages, to carefully uncovering multiple paste-over layers, Dr. Stephen Town delivers a compelling paper trail - and a guided turn-of-the-microscope-lens mystery novel - of serious and insightful scholarship. It's not merely the method that fascinates here-it's the results. You'll want scores, and a Book of Common Prayer, in hand as you trace compositional development through the autograph lens. Town's account is more than standard analysis: it reveals the composer's growth across his seasons of life. Wisdom and prowess culminates in the winter of RVW's life - marriage, revisiting old friends (previous compositions), introspection, and reconciliation. A Vaughan Williams Charterhouse Fellow, Dr. Stephen Town's autograph analyses constitute a significant contribution to the acme of musicological contributions to the life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams. They are a-must read and engaging reading. -- Sean Vogt, Clayton State University Stephen Town is the perfect storm of meticulous researcher, practicing and performing vocal musician, and compelling writer. The Choral-Orchestral Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Autographs, Context, Discourse blends Town's ability to capture the complete picture of what a performing musician wants to know about the history of these works, the theoretical underpinnings that matter to conductors and therefore listeners, and the unique insights of a performer passionate about music making while remaining objective about the performance material. By embracing all of Vaughan Williams's choral-orchestral works, this study gives us insight into each individual work as informed by the complete oeuvre. As a frequent performer of these works, Town's guide will now be my first-reach as I prepare for the next journey with Vaughan Williams. -- Tim Sharp, American Choral Directors Association This magnum opus by Stephen Town represents the most significant contribution of the decade to the understanding and literature of Vaughan-Williams's choral-orchestral works. Town takes an impressive holistic approach to the music by examining the most intricate aspects of thirteen masterworks. He provides penetrating insights into Vaughan-Williams's compositional process, primarily by using Jan LaRue's system of style analysis. In addition, Town carefully describes the physical condition and characteristics of each manuscript. Most importantly, his thoughts and conclusions, based on his own knowledge as well as his review of the existing literature, are thorough, illuminating, and exhaustive. Finally, a wealth of footnotes at the end of each chapter provides supplementary details that are fascinating, pertinent, and extensive. This book is a definite must-have for all scholars and serious admirers of Vaughan-Williams and his choral-orchestral music. -- Ernest Kramer, Northwest Missouri State University

Author Information

Stephen Town is professor of music and distinguished faculty awardee at Northwest Missouri State University.

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