Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
William Vann conductor
ALBION ALBCD064
I have in front of me not only the CD with its beautiful cover of the flight into Egypt, but a reprint of ‘Twelve Traditional Carols from Herefordshire’ edited by Roy Palmer and containing, the cover says, pieces collected by Mrs. E.M. Leather and R. Vaughan Williams.
As early as 1902 VW came to Herefordshire collecting tunes and to two villages in particular, Weobley where Mrs. Leather lived, and Eardisley near to my home. It is a source of much local pride. Normally Mrs. Leather noted the words and VW the tunes.
There are 12 carols in this printed collection. Tracks 1-12 are given in VW’s SATB versions and by contrast the next twelve are heard performed by the beautifully focused solo voice of Derek Welton with the energetic and brilliant Iain Burnside.
The tunes may not always be as you expect. For instance, if you look in the Oxford Book of Carols No.57 you will find two versions of Dives and Lazarus, the second one of which it says ‘tune noted by Mrs. Leather in Eardisley’ but it is not the one heard here. Incidentally, this runs to fourteen verses, so William Vann has sensibly edited it. We also have two versions of The Holy Well, found in the Oxford Book (No. 56) but neither melody relates to the two recorded here.
This is music written and arranged for good amateur singers so never is it too demanding. This choir is ideal. They are balanced and have clear diction and a fresh uncluttered tone quality.
The booklet is an absolute delight with a detailed essay about Ella Mary Leather and a note on each of the pieces with the text supplied. There are also several colour photos of the happy-looking choir, eight men and oddly, I think, seven women.
Highly recommended.
Review by Gary Higginson