Earth & Sky

Albion Records is pleased to present fourteen choral works written by Ralph Vaughan Williams and a further eight arrangements made by him between 1896 and 1954- very nearly the length of his working career. 21 of the tracks on this release are world premiere recordings. This varied collection includes salon music, folk song settings, hymns and anthems, patriotic songs and finally Gaelic songs in English translation. Vaughan Williams never repeated himself, and the variety on display here is quite astonishing. The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital is one of the finest professional church choirs in the UK, whose primary purpose is to sing at the Sunday morning Matins service in the Wren Chapel. Members regularly sing with many of the world's leading consort groups, such as The Sixteen, Tallis Scholars, and Monteverdi Choir, and also work in the fields of opera, conducting, teaching, and music journalism. It's twelve singers, occasionally enlarged for occasions such as this recording, are chosen not only for their skill at choral singing, but also for a high standard of solo ability and general musicianship.