Vaughan Williams: Over hill, over dale

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Even without his highly regarded symphonies, various instrumental works, and monumental and influential work on the revision of the English Hymnal, Vaughan Williams would have made a major impact on 20th-century music with his many original choral works and his folksong arrangements. In fact, Vaughan Williams's folksong-collecting work was one of the more important contributions ever made to English music. This disc offers a wonderful collection of a cappella choral pieces, including some of Vaughan Williams's finest folksong arrangements. Besides "Ca' the yowes," "Full fathom five," "Greensleeves," and "The Turtle Dove," the program includes rarely heard masterpieces such as "Alister McAlpine's Lament," which brilliantly captures the mood of the song with serene, sensual harmonies and gently flowing vocal lines. The Holst Singers seem born to this music, giving us the music's full flavor without ever overplaying it. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Over Hill, Over Dale: Loch Lomond
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Shakespeare Songs: Full Fathom Five
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Shakespeare Songs: The Cloud-Capp'd Towers
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Shakespeare Songs: Over Hill, Over Dale
Over Hill, Over Dale: Alister McAlphine's Lament
Over Hill, Over Dale: An Acre Of Land
Over Hill, Over Dale: The Seeds Of Love
Over Hill, Over Dale: Ca' The Yowes
Over Hill, Over Dale: Five English Folk Songs: The Dark-Eyed Sailor
Over Hill, Over Dale: Five English Folk Songs: The Spring Time Of The Year
Over Hill, Over Dale: Five English Folk Songs: Just The Tide Was Flowing
Over Hill, Over Dale: Five English Folk Songs: The Lover's Ghost
Over Hill, Over Dale: Five English Folk Songs: Wassail Song
Over Hill, Over Dale: The Winter Is Gone
Over Hill, Over Dale: Mannin Veen
Over Hill, Over Dale: Bushes And Briars
Over Hill, Over Dale: Down Among The Dead Men
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: Sweet Day
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: O Mistress Mine
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: The Willow Song
Over Hill, Over Dale: Greensleeves
Over Hill, Over Dale: Rest
Over Hill, Over Dale: Heart's Music
Over Hill, Over Dale: Come Away, Death
Over Hill, Over Dale: The Turtle Dove

Amazon.com

Even without his highly regarded symphonies, various instrumental works, and monumental and influential work on the revision of the English Hymnal, Vaughan Williams would have made a major impact on 20th-century music with his many original choral works and his folksong arrangements. In fact, Vaughan Williams's folksong-collecting work was one of the more important contributions ever made to English music. This disc offers a wonderful collection of a cappella choral pieces, including some of Vaughan Williams's finest folksong arrangements. Besides "Ca' the yowes," "Full fathom five," "Greensleeves," and "The Turtle Dove," the program includes rarely heard masterpieces such as "Alister McAlpine's Lament," which brilliantly captures the mood of the song with serene, sensual harmonies and gently flowing vocal lines. The Holst Singers seem born to this music, giving us the music's full flavor without ever overplaying it. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-07-21

Ralph Vaughan-Williams loved "the lilt of the chorus at the music hall...children dancing to a barrel organ, the rousing fervor of a Salvation Army Hymn, St.Paul's and a great choir singing at one of its festivals...the Welshmen striking up one of their own hymns...the cries of street pedlars, the factory girls singing their sentimental songs." This disc somehow reflects all of these influences. I think it makes him a true folksong specialist!!!The music included herein covers the whole of the composer's long career-from "The Willow Song"written when he was eighteen, to "Heart's Music",composed three years before his death at the age of eighty-six. The Holst Singers along with the two soloists:Ian Bostridge (tenor) and Michael George (bass)are very excellent in their renditions. The choir is perfection in balance, diction, ensemble and emotional content. Bostridge with his sweet and pure tenor almost moves one to tears especially in "Greensleeves" and "Ca'the yowes". And Michael George was also very moving in his solo:"Loch Lomond". It is as if the entire performing group were aware of a statement made by Vaughan-Williams before his death: "if the roots of your art are firmly planted in your own soil, and that soil has anything to give you, you may still gain the whole world and not lose your own souls."

Songs that Never Fade.......2005-11-21

A selection of the best of RVW's folksong arrangements performed with insight and restraint by the Holst Singers, with help from soloists like the incomparable Ian Bostridge. Vaughan William's respect for these folksongs is evident in his exquisite settings, which reveal their depth and subtlety, without obscuring their simplicity.

This is a recording to cherish.

Heavenly, introspective, definitely the most soulful songs!.......2003-03-16

This collection of English and Scottish folk songs moved me to tears and made me experience a plethora of emotions over and over again. The beautiful melodies flowing from this CD conjure up melacholy, joy, sadness and wonder. They crystalise the most common human experiences and the mystery of existence into certain folksong idioms that, once listened to, will stick in your ears and stir your heart strings for a long time.

Salute to Vaughan Williams for documenting, preserving and arranging these gems of English and Scottish heritage. Holst singers performe splendidly. Their discipline and professionalism, and a sense of artistic direction shine through.

I highly recommend this CD along with John Rutter's "The Lark in the Clear Air" for all the sensitive people who take interest in classical music and traditional folk songs.

I wish I can give this CD 10 stars!

Tracks:

Britten: Sacred and Profane: St. Godric's Hymn
Britten: Sacred and Profane: I mon waxe wod
Britten: Sacred and Profane: Lenten is come
Britten: Sacred and Profane: The long night
Britten: Sacred and Profane: Yif ic of luve can
Britten: Sacred and Profane: Carol
Britten: Sacred and Profane: Ye that pasen by
Britten: Sacred and Profane: A death
Elgar: Part-Songs: Go, song of mine, op. 57
Elgar: Part-Songs: There is sweet music, op. 53 no. 1
Elgar: Part-Songs: Love's Tempest, op. 73 no. 1
Williams: Three Shakespeare Songs: Full Fathom Five
Williams: Three Shakespeare Songs: The Cloud-Capp'd Towers
Williams: Three Shakespeare Songs: Over Hill. Over Dale
Britten: Hymn To St. Cecilia, op. 27
Delius: Two Unaccompanied Part Songs: Slow but not dragging
Delius: Two Unaccompanied Part Songs: Gaily but not quick
Stanford: The Blue Bird, op. 119 no. 3

Average customer rating:

An essential boxed set of RVWs work

A Portrait of Vaughan Williams

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Spirit of England II
The Spirit of England
Hodie / Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst and other choral works

ASIN: B00000I757
Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

Overture: The Wasps - Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending - Vaughan Williams
Fantasia On Greensleeves - Vaughan Williams
Oboe Concerto: I. Rondo Pastorale - Vaughan Williams
Oboe Concerto: II. Minuet And Musette - Vaughan Williams
Oboe Concerto: III. Sherzo - Vaughan Williams
Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis - Vaughan Williams
Five Variants Of Dives And Lazarus - Vaughan Williams

Tracks:

Mass In G Minor: Kyrie - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass In G Minor: Gloria in excelsis - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass In G Minor: Credo - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass In G Minor: Sanctus Osanna I - Benedictus - Osanna II - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass In G Minor: Agnus Dei - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Sacred And Secular Songs: Valiant-For-Truth [John Bunyan] - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Sacred And Secular Songs: The Blessed Son of God [Miles Coverdale, after Martin Luther] - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Sacred And Secular Songs: No Sad Thought His Soul Affright (Verse 1 - Anon. Verse 2 - Ursula Vaughan Williams) - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Sacred And Secular Songs: Lord, Thou Has Been Our Refuge [Psalm 90] - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Sacred And Secular Songs: O Taste And See [Psalm 84:8] - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Three Shakespeare Songs: Full Fathom Five - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Three Shakespeare Songs: The Cloud-Capp'd Towers - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Three Shakespeare Songs: Over Hill, Over Dale - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Tracks:

Phantasy Quintet: I. Prelude: Lento ma non troppo - V. Williams
Phantasy Quintet: II. Scherzo: Prestissimo - V. Williams
Phantasy Quintet: III. Alla Sarbanda: Lento - V. Williams
Phantasy Quintet: IV. Burlesca: Allegro moderato - V. Williams
String Quartet 1 In G Minor: I. Allegro moderato - V. Williams
String Quartet 1 In G Minor: II. Minuet And Trio: Tempo di Minuetto - V. Williams
String Quartet 1 In G Minor: III. Romance: Andante sostenuto - V. Williams
String Quartet 1 In G Minor: IV. Finale: Rondo Capriccioso Allegro molto - V. Williams
String Quartet 2 In A For Jean On Her Birthday: I. Prelude: Allegro appassionato - V. Williams
II. Romance: Largo - V. Williams
III. Scherzo: Allegro - V. Williams
IV. Epilogue: Andante Sostenuto - V. Williams

Tracks:

An Oxford Elegy - Vaughan Williams
Flos Campi - Vaughan Williams
Te Deum - Vaughan Williams
O, Clap Your Hands - Vaughan Williams
The Old Hundreth Psalm Tune - Vaughan Williams

Customer Reviews:

An essential boxed set of RVWs work.......2000-04-18

Originally, I was confused when I encountered this set, as it incorporates four formerly individual Nimbus releases, now deleted from their catalogue. Be warned, then, if you have Nimbus releases of 'An Oxford Elegy' (and other choral music), or of RVWs Chamber Music (including the 'Phantasy Quintet' and the 'String Quartet') - these are the same recordings!

That being said, if you don't have these titles, or you have them in another release, and you enjoy RVWs music, then you simply must add this anthology to your collection. These discs include the first recording of 'An Oxford Elegy' that I ever encountered; it is such a marvellous piece that you'll be scrambling for poetry anthologies to find bits of Matthew Arnold's 'Thyrsis' and 'The Scholar Gypsy' just to read along. 'Flos Campi' is a marvellous, almost impressionistic piece, which always brings an image of Roman legions marching slowly through Surrey to mind. The 'Phantasy Quintet' is exception, as is the 'String Quartet'. However, it is the recording of the 'Lark Ascending' (now sadly thieved by some cursèd auto manufacturer to flog their worthless vehicles) that is the high point of this, as it is of most, collections. Of course, I could be considered biased, as it is my all-time favourite piece of music. The collection is rounded out by, among others, the essential 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis' and an interesting selection of the Sacred and Secular songs, as well as three of RVWs Shakespeare treatments.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent debut.......2000-05-02

Few chorus can make both the sweet sound and correct momentum as showed here. In the booklet it is said members of this chorus are selected by the conducter from other good ones, and this is their debut recording. There is no doubt they all are elites. Their sound is clear and sweet, the interpertation is very satisfying. The only flaw is that the recording is too hollow, full of echo.

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