"Rest" [Ralph Vaughan Williams]

"Rest" [Ralph Vaughan Williams]

First line of lyrics: Earth lie heavily upon her eyes

Vaughan Williams, Ralph; music (English, 1872-1958)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

1902 [composition] [publication]; 1904-1905? [publication]; 1970 [publication]

London: J. Laudy and Co.; London: Bosworth & Co. Ltd (reissue); New York: Galaxy Music Corporation (1970)

genre: choral music|part song|song

chorus: SSATB chorus

instrumentation: a cappella|piano (for rehearsal only)

initial sharps/flats: three flats

initial time signature: 3/4

origin: United Kingdom

male composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "Rest"

Tempo markings: "Adante sostenuto"; quarter note = 58

Performance instructions: "For Unaccompanied Mixed Chorus (SSATB)"

Performance history: "First performance. St. James's Hall, London, 14 May 1902. Magpie Madrigal Society conducted by Lionel Benson." (Kennedy, p. 15)

Recordings: "Rest." Songs and Elegies. Performance by Quink vocal ensemble (Machteld van Woerden, soprano, Paula de Wit, soprano, Corrie Pronk, alto, Harry van Berne, tenor, Kees-Jan de Koning, bass), recorded at NH Church, Vreeland, Netherlands, Challenge Classics, 1987, 1993, 2011.
"Rest." My Spirit Sang All Day. Performance by the Kings Singers, Jeremy Jackman & Alastair Hume, countertenors, Robert Chilcott, tenor, Anthony Holt & Simon Carrington, baritones, Colin Mason, bass, EMI Digital, 1988.
"Rest." Vaughan Williams: Over hill, over dale. Performance by the Holst Singers, conducted by Stephen Layton, Hyperion, 1995.
"Rest." Where Hope is Shining [Songs for mixed chorus by Ralph Vaughan Williams]. Performance by the Joyful Company of Singers, conducted by Peter Broadbent, Albion Records, 2008.
"Rest." Silence and Music. Performance by the Gabrieli Consort, conducted by Paul McCreesh, Signum Classics, Winged Lion, 2017.
"Rest." Like to the Lark. Performance by the Swedish Chamber Choir, conducted by Simon Phipps, recorded at Årstads Kyrka, Heberg, Sweden, Chandos, 2019.

Dedication: "To Lionel Benson, Esq. & the members of the Magpie Madrigal Society." (Kennedy, p. 15)

Notes: In E flat major.

Format 1: musical score

7 pages; performance time ca. 3-4 minutes

In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4705

Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.

Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html

Other data reference(s): Kennedy, Michael. A Catalogue of the Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 15. Scholars Portal, https://books-scholarsportal-info.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/uri/ebooks/ebooks0/oxford/2009-11-30/3/0198165846.
Pearson, Jonathan and the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society. The Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams (Digital Issues). "Discography." The Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, https://rvwsociety.com/discography/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2020.

Cataloguer: Emma-Catherine Wilson and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa

musical score: University of Ottawa Library, Ottawa.

Record: CRM-rest-vaughanwilliams

File(s): CRM-rest-vaughanwilliams.pdf

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