Journal of the No.19 October 2000 EDITOR Stephen Connock RVW (see address below) Society DRAWING NEAR TO RVW In this issue... AT CHARTERHOUSE Focus on Job The International Vaughan Williams The guest lecturers had a unique quality usually Symposium held at Charterhouse, Godalming, because of the presenter’s biographical proximity Surrey (England) from 23-29 July had the to their subject matter. Alain Frogley’s topic was * A Context for the Masques atmosphere of a musical family gathering. The changed to Vaughan Williams, German Music and week was a wonderful balance of research reports the Hamburg Shakespeare Prize. John Huntley’s by Deborah Heckert by the RVW Fellows and guest lecturers, lively first hand account of VW’s work as a film Page 4 performances of RVW’s music, and bus trips by composer included the film, Dim Little Island, which we could further trace the footsteps of 1949 where the voice of RVW was heard by some VW’s life. In addition the symposium community of us for the first time! * The Origins of Job had the opportunity in informal settings to ask by Sir Geoffrey Keynes questions and share their knowledge and opinions Related to the above individual presentations about the composer’s energetic life, sterling were two panel discussions. The first on VW and Page 16 character, and great music. This event was Analysis consisted of panel members: Murray cordially and efficiently managed by Robin Dineen, Lionel Pike, Mark McFarland, and * Sir Geoffrey Keynes and the Wells, Director of Music at Charterhouse, and Andrew Herbert. The second, on Vaughan Byron Adams, Professor of Composition and Williams, Culture and Society included Deborah ballet Job Musicology at the University of California at Heckert, Renee Clark, Charles McGuire, and by Frank W.D. Ries Riverside. Various other assistants unknown to Duncan Kennel. Both sessions were moderated me by name kept things running smoothly. by Byron Adams. Questions, comments and lively Page 18 discussions supplemented all the lectures and Lectures these two panels. * Comparative CD reviews All of these interesting and informative Excursions of Job presentations were given either by American by William Hedley RVW Research Fellows or by distinguished Very enjoyable bus trips on Monday afternoon British guests lecturers who were particularly and Wednesday were led by Robin Wells and Page 9 close to various areas of RVW’s life and work. Byron Adams. On Monday we saw Leith Hill The Fellows were recipients of grants awarded by Place, Coldharbour Church, Dorking Halls, and "the Carthusian Trust, in recognition of help the Surrey Performing Arts Library with its RVW Papers on the Sixth AGM enclosed received from the RVW Trust (establishing) the collection of scores, books, recordings, and The AGM is on 8th October at RVW U.S Research Fellowship." (Robin Wells, displays. On Wednesday we went to Down Charterhouse Journal of the RVW Society, No. 6 June, 1996.) Ampney and saw the Old Vicarage, All Saints This gracious gesture to American RVW Church and then Cheltenham’s Holst Birthplace scholarship began in 1985 and continues through and Museum. These gave us a magical sense of CHAIRMAN the present. The series of lectures began with the earlier times and places! Keynote Address by Byron Adams who posed the Stephen Connock MBE question, "Why Vaughan Williams at this point in Performances 65 Marathon House, time here at Charterhouse?" After many 200 Marylebone Road, interesting comments, he came back to the This week was rich in live performances ranging London NW1 5PL question and gave a personal answer, "…because from "Ca’ the yowes," to the Allegro from I believe RVW is one of the greatest composers Symphony No 6. Thursday afternoon was graced (0836 567413) not only of the twentieth century, but of all time". by the warm and responsive presence of Ursula Vaughan Williams who joined our audience to TREASURER The series of eleven papers by the RVW Fellows hear Robin Moorish and the Chamber Orchestra were of high quality and were supplemented by play The Lark Ascending. Friday we heard the John Francis illustrative hand-outs, overhead projections, Concerto Grosso ably played by amateurs, the Lindeyer Francis Ferguson, films, and recorded musical examples. Since a list type of musicians for whom VW composed the North House, of presenters and their topics appeared with the work. The final choral and orchestral concert and 198 High Street, previous journal (June, 2000), only changes in event of the week was an all Vaughan Williams Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE topics or personnel will be mentioned here plus programme: Flos Campi, with Martin Outram other unlisted highlights. Byron Adam’s topic, violist, conducted by Ian Humphris; Serenade to (01732 360200) RVW and Elgar was replaced by his Keynote Music conducted by John Huw Davies; and Address. Julian Onderdonk was unable to be Toward the Unknown Region conducted by Robin SECRETARY present so Deborah Heckert spoke on The Wells. This brought the week to an inspiring close Musical Past Perfect: Vaughan Williams, followed by warm farewells! Dr. David Betts Nationalism and Nostalgia in the Masque. (see Tudor Cottage page 4) Following this Robin Wells presented a John Barr 30, Tivoli Road recording of VW’s Masque of Charterhouse, Bridgewater, Va., U.S.A Brighton 1950. Another valuable event which followed East Sussex Daniel Goldmark’s paper was the showing of the For a further review by Linda Haywood 90 minute film, The Loves of Joanna Godden, see page 2 BN1 5BH 1947. Photograph page 2 (01273 501118) Charity No. 1017175 a performance of the Three Shakespeare Songs. The final concert took place in chapel involving The RVW Symposium at choirs and orchestra. The programme consisted of Flos Campi, Serenade to Music and Towards the Unknown Region. At the beginning of the Charterhouse School concert there was an extra item which was a 23rd to 29th July 2000 short organ work by J.S. Bach whose death had occurred 250 years previously at the exact time by Linda Haywood that the concert was due to start. This concert was very special, being the culmination of all his special event took place alongside the passacaglia passage. The second quartet was the hard work of the students on the course, and annual Charterhouse Summer Music written in 1944 and had unusual titles for each a fitting end to the week. Singing members of TSchool. The Summer School owes its movement – prelude, romance, scherzo, and the symposium were invited to attend the being to the foresight of Vaughan Williams epilogue. The key structure was discussed as rehearsals and take part in this final concert. A when he helped set up a Summer Music Course well as the fact that some of the film music number of the students and professors did so. in collaboration with the Surrey County Music from 49 th Parallel was used in the scherzo. Advisor, Norman Askew, in 1945. The course From the players point of view this movement There were two outings – an RVW heritage trail moved to Charterhouse School in 1975, being was considered "a wicked one" to play. ending up at the new home of the Performing renamed in the process. To celebrate the Silver However, both quartets were very satisfying to Arts Library in Dorking, and a visit to Down Jubilee, the special Symposium on the works of perform, as Vaughan Williams always Ampney and the Holst Birthplace Museum in Ralph Vaughan Williams came into being. demanded "a ravishing sound" from his strings. Cheltenham. The vicar met us in Down Throughout the week there were lectures, This session was concluded with a rare Ampney and spoke about the Old Vicarage concerts, outings, discussions, and a workshop performance of the Phantasy Quintet which where RVW was born. We then went to the dealing with certain areas of RVW’s vast was written for two violins, two violas, and a church where he told us about its history. We output. cello, in 1912. had an impromptu sing of Come Down O Love Divine to RVW’s famous tune Down Ampney About twenty people came to hear the Vaughan The concerts were interspersed with material complete with organ accompaniment. I found Williams Research Fellows read their paper as by Vaughan Williams. In fact the first one, this very moving, as it was completely well as guest lecturers on a variety of subjects. given on the day of arrival, in the old school unexpected. We then went on to a guided tour General titles included Vaughan Williams and where RVW played one of his compositions of Holst’s birthplace. Opera, Vaughan Williams and Song, Vaughan while still a schoolboy, was wholly a RVW Williams and Dance, Vaughan Williams and his work. The programme included Two Romances, A special occasion was the visit of Ursula Community. Within these general categories, one for violin and piano and the other for viola Vaughan Williams on Thursday afternoon, the lecturers looked at specific areas of VW’s and piano. Other music was the Suite de Ballet when she attended a concert and met those on music. Lectures on "Octatonicism and Riders to for flute and piano, one of the Three Vocalises the symposium. the Sea" – a look at the specific harmonies used for soprano and clarinet, two songs from Along in the opera, and "Stevenson, Vaughan Williams the Field and three movements from the For me, the week was absolutely wonderful. and their Songs of Travel" – a comparison of Charterhouse Suite which was arranged for Being in "RVW land" and for a whole week the texts used by VW and the harmonies used in wind ensemble and played by the Aurora Wind was an experience to be savoured! I enjoyed all the songs, were just two examples.