"Sound Sleep" [R. Vaughan Williams]

"Sound Sleep" [R. Vaughan Williams]

First line of lyrics: Some are laughing, some are weeping

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

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

1903 [composition] [publication] [copyright]

London: Novello and Company, Limited; New York: Novello, Ewer & Co.

genre: song|part song

trio: SSA

instrumentation: piano

initial sharps/flats: three flats

initial time signature: 3/4

other version 1: trio: SSA

other version 1 - instrumentation: orchestra

origin: United Kingdom

male composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "Sound Sleep"

Tempo markings: "Andante sostenuto"

Performance instructions: The version for SSA trio with orchestral accompaniment includes the following instruments: 2 flutes (1 opt), 2 oboes (1 opt.), 2 clarinets (1 opt.), 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets (opt.), timpani (opt.), strings. (Kennedy, p. 18)

Performance history: "First performance, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, at the East Lincolnshire Musical Festival on 27 April 1903, as a test-piece. The festival was organized by Mrs. Massingberd, of Gunby Hall, whose choir, Gunby, were first in their class with this trio." (Kennedy, p. 18)
A performance with orchestral accompaniment "with strings only was given by Penshurst Vocal and Instrumental Society, 30 December 1903" (Kennedy, p. 18)

Recordings: "Sound Sleep." A London Symphony and Other Works. Performance by Elizabeth Watts, soprano, Mary Bevan, soprano, Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano and the BBC Symphony Olrchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins, Hyperion, 2016.
"Sound Sleep." Earth & Sky. Performance by the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, conducted by William Vann, piano, recorded at St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead, London, Albion Records, 2018.

Dedication: "To Mrs. Massingberd" [wife of Stephen Massingberd (Kennedy, p. 18)]

Notes: In E flat major. Kennedy states, "Tonic solfa edition also published, Novello TS series, no. 1489, in April 1906. Version with orchestral accompaniment published by Novello. Material available on hire. Instrumentation, 2 flutes (1 opt), 2 oboes (1 opt.), 2 clarinets (1 opt.), 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets (opt.), timpani (opt.), strings. Whereabouts of MS. Score dated 7 October 1903, in British Museum (50436), Performance of this version with strings only was given by Penshurst Vocal and Instrumental Society, 30 December 1903" (p. 18).

Format 1: musical score

Contains tonic sol-fa notation

9 pages; performance time 5 minutes and 25 seconds

In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4804

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

Other data reference(s): Kennedy, Michael. A Catalogue of the Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 18. 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: Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa

musical score: Alexander Street, https://books-scholarsportal-info.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/uri/ebooks/ebooks0/oxford/2009-11-30/3/0198165846. Accessed 10 Apr. 2020.

Record: CRM-soundsleep-vaughanwilliams

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

"Copyright, 1903, by Novello and Company, Limited."

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