Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | White Gates | 20231221 | Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at 'White Gates' in Surrey, where he moved in the late 1920s. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. Today, Kate explores Vaughan Williams's time living at 'White Gates' in Dorking, where he moved in the late 1920s. He would stay there for 25 years and survive the bombing raids of the second World War in the house. The leafy surrounds of Surrey made for quieter Christmases on the whole, and Ralph's wife Adeline was growing old and frail, but a new flame was kindled in Vaughan Williams's heart when he met a young poet named Ursula Wood. Kate also explores the origins of a famous carol's tune – the melody of which Vaughan Williams notated as being sung by Mr Garman of Forest Green, Surrey, on a folk song collecting trip in 1903. Hodie (This Day): The Oxen Stephen Gadd, baritone Royal Philharmonic Onrchestra Hilary Davan Wetton, conductor On Christmas Night (extract) Sarah Fox, soprano Roderick Williams, baritone The Joyful Company of Singers & City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor Dona Nobis Pacem – III. Reconciliation Christina Pier, soprano Matthew Brook, baritone Bach Choir Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra David Hill, conductor Trad Ploughboy's Dream Coope, Boyes & Simpson, vocals Vaughan Williams (arr.) O Little Town of Bethlehem Choir of King's College, Cambridge Tom Etheridge, organ Stephen Cleobury, director Prelude: 49th parallel Northern Sinfonia Symphony no. 5 in D Major - III. Romanza BBC SO Andrew Davis, conductor God rest you merry, gentlemen Angus McPhee, baritone Timothy Murphy, bass Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea William Vann, director Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at the house White Gates in Surrey. Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at White Gates in Surrey, where he moved in the late 1920s. | |
| 2023 | 01 | Leith Hill Place | 20231218 | Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's early experiences of Christmas at his home, Leith Hill Place, and as a student. “I've always loved carols, ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. In Monday's programme, Kate delves into Vaughan Williams's early experiences of Christmas at his home, Leith Hill Place, and as a student, exploring how the discovery of carols came to have such a huge impact on him. Kate also explores a trip Vaughan Williams made to Kingsfold, near Leith Hill Place, where he heard a folk singer called Mr Booker sing “the Ballad of Maria Marten ?, a tune which would remain an inspiration to him throughout his life. Vaughan Williams (arr.) Dives and Lazarus The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea William Vann, director The First Nowell (extract) Sarah Fox, soprano Roderick Williams, baritone Joyful Company of Singers City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor Trad. The Murder of Maria Marten Joseph Taylor, singer Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Andrew Manze, conductor Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra – Group 1 Helen Callus, viola New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Marc Decio Taddei, conductor The Wasps - Overture Hallé Orchestra Mark Elder, conductor Produced Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's Christmases as a child and as a student. 9 Carols – no. 9 Dives and Lazarus |
| 2023 | 02 | Christmases In Italy And London | 20231219 | Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's burgeoning friendships with Gustav Holst and Adeline Fisher, who would become his first wife, and the first few Christmases they spent together. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. In Tuesday's programme, Kate explores Vaughan Williams's burgeoning friendships with Gustav Holst and Adeline Fisher, who would become his first wife. As part of their honeymoon, the pair spent Christmas of 1897 in Italy with Adeline's family before settling down in London. Kate also discovers the origins of one of the melodies Vaughan Williams used to set the carol “The Holy Well ?, which dates back to a trip the composer made with folklorist Mrs Ella Mary Leather to a gypsy encampment in Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire. Vaughan Williams (arr) I Saw Three Ships Come In Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea William Vann, director Willow Wood Roderick Williams, baritone Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra David Lloyd-Jones, conductor Vaughan Williams (arr Douglas) Folk Songs of the Four Seasons: Orchestral Suite Royal Scottish National Orchestra Martin Yates, conductor Trad The High-low well Wiggy Smith, singer The Holy Well (version 1) Derek Welton, baritone Iain Burnside, piano Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Aurora Orchestra Nigel Short, conductor Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's early Christmases with his wife Adeline. Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's burgeoning friendships with Gustav Holst and Adeline Fisher, who became his first wife, and the first Christmases they spent together. Folk Song of the Four Seasons: Orchestral Suite |
| 2023 | 03 | At War | 20231220 | Kate Molleson explores what Christmas was like for Ralph Vaughan Williams during World War I, as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. Today, Kate explores what Christmas was like for Ralph Vaughan Williams during World War I, as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Vaughan Williams (arr.) As Joseph was Walking Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea William Vann, director A London Symphony – III. Scherzo Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Andrew Manze, conductor City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor Symphony 3 - II. Lento London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Adrian Boult, conductor Trad. Tony Wales, vocals and guitar Sussex Carol The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea Hugh Rowlands, organ The Lark Ascending Sarah Chang, violin Bernard Haitink, conductor Produced by Sam Philips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson explores what Christmas was like for Vaughan Williams during World War I. |
| 2023 | 04 | White Gates | 20231221 | Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at 'White Gates' in Surrey, where he moved in the late 1920s. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. Today, Kate explores Vaughan Williams's time living at 'White Gates' in Dorking, where he moved in the late 1920s. He would stay there for 25 years and survive the bombing raids of the second World War in the house. The leafy surrounds of Surrey made for quieter Christmases on the whole, and Ralph's wife Adeline was growing old and frail, but a new flame was kindled in Vaughan Williams's heart when he met a young poet named Ursula Wood. Kate also explores the origins of a famous carol's tune – the melody of which Vaughan Williams notated as being sung by Mr Garman of Forest Green, Surrey, on a folk song collecting trip in 1903. Hodie (This Day): The Oxen Stephen Gadd, baritone Royal Philharmonic Onrchestra Hilary Davan Wetton, conductor On Christmas Night (extract) Sarah Fox, soprano Roderick Williams, baritone The Joyful Company of Singers & City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor Dona Nobis Pacem – III. Reconcilliation Christina Pier, soprano Matthew Brook, baritone Bach Choir Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra David Hill, conductor Trad Ploughboy's Dream Coope, Boyes & Simpson, vocals Vaughan Williams (arr.) O Little Town of Bethlehem Choir of King's College, Cambridge Tom Etheridge, organ Stephen Cleobury, director Prelude: 49th parallel Northern Sinfonia Symphony no. 5 in D Major - III. Romanza BBC SO Andrew Davis, conductor 9 carols (for soldiers) – No. 1 God rest you merry gentlemen Angus McPhee, baritone Timothy Murphy, bass Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea William Vann, director Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at the house White Gates in Surrey. Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's time living at White Gates in Surrey, where he moved in the late 1920s. Dona Nobis Pacem – III. Reconciliation God rest you merry, gentlemen |
| 2023 | 05 LAST | Hanover Terrace | 20231222 | Kate Molleson explores the Christmases Vaughan Williams spent back in London, living on Hanover Terrace. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. In the last programme of this week, Kate explores the Christmases Vaughan Williams spent back in London, living on Hanover Terrace, where he and his second wife Ursula held an annual carol party. Kate also explores the composer's last trip to the USA and his final folk song collecting trip in 1955 and we will hear music from his Christmas pieces Hodie and The First Nowell. The First Nowell: IX: In Bethlehem City Joyful Company of Singers City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor On Wenlock Edge – V. Bredon Hill James Gilchrist, tenor Anna Tilbrook, piano Fitzwilliam String Quartet Epithalamion (the bridal day) – Procession of the bride Britten Sinfonia Alan Tongue, conductor Hodie (extract) John Shirley-Quirk, bass-baritone Dame Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano Richard Lewis, tenor Bach Choir Westminster Abbey Choir London Symphony Orchestra Sir David Willcocks, conductor Symphony no 7 – V. Epilogue Sir John Gielgud, narrator Margaret Ritchie, soprano London Philharmonic Choir London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Adrian Boult, conductor Trad Seven Virgins (Leaves of Life) Norma Waterson Vaughan Williams (arr.) The Seven Virgins Derek Welton, baritone Iain Burnside, piano
The First Nowell – XX. The First Nowell Sarah Fox, soprano Roderick Williams, baritone The Joyful Company of Singers Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson follows Vaughan Williams back to London and a new home on Hanover Terrace. Kate Molleson explores the Christmases Vaughan Williams spent back in London, living on Hanover Terrace. “I've always loved carols ? Vaughan Williams wrote to Cecil Sharp in 1911. Despite being called a “most determined atheist ? by Bertrand Russell at University, and in later life “a cheerful agnostic ?, the composer never lost his love for Christmas. It dated back to childhood memories of singing carols from Stainer and Bramley's Christmas Carols New and Old at his home at Leith Hill Place, Surrey. As an adult, his lifelong passion for the Christmas period was demonstrated in his music - the Fantasia on Christmas Carols, On Christmas Night based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the cantata Hodie and the nativity play The First Nowell. His passion for collecting folk tunes in various counties of England – armed with a trusty pencil and paper, or at times a phonograph - also led to a plethora of carol settings using these folk tunes, as Vaughan Williams himself said “Every day some old village singer dies, and with him there probably die half-a-dozen beautiful melodies, which are lost to the world forever: if we would preserve what still remains we must set about it at once. ? In this special week of programmes, Kate Molleson explores Vaughan Williams's experiences of Christmas across his life alongside some of his best loved pieces, and the music he wrote to celebrate the festive period. In the last programme of this week, Kate explores the Christmases Vaughan Williams spent back in London, living on Hanover Terrace, where he and his second wife Ursula held an annual carol party. Kate also explores the composer's last trip to the USA and his final folk song collecting trip in 1955 and we will hear music from his Christmas pieces Hodie and The First Nowell. The First Nowell: IX: In Bethlehem City Joyful Company of Singers City of London Sinfonia Richard Hickox, conductor On Wenlock Edge – V. Bredon Hill James Gilchrist, tenor Anna Tilbrook, piano Fitzwilliam String Quartet Epithalamion (the bridal day) – Procession of the bride Britten Sinfonia Alan Tongue, conductor Hodie (extract) John Shirley-Quirk, bass-baritone Dame Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano Richard Lewis, tenor Bach Choir Westminster Abbey Choir London Symphony Orchestra Sir David Willcocks, conductor Symphony no 7 – V. Epilogue Sir John Gielgud, narrator Margaret Ritchie, soprano London Philharmonic Choir London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Adrian Boult, conductor Trad Seven Virgins (Leaves of Life) Norma Waterson Vaughan Williams (arr.) The Seven Virgins Derek Welton, baritone Iain Burnside, piano
The First Nowell – XX. The First Nowell Sarah Fox, soprano Roderick Williams, baritone The Joyful Company of Singers Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West Kate Molleson follows Vaughan Williams back to London and a new home on Hanover Terrace. |