Review

Various
Eleven Christmas Carols:

Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams/James Bates

Trombone quartet: 4 trombones: 3 tenor, 1 bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This collection of traditional English Christmas carols was harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1911. Many of these harmonizations were made famous in the Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols (1912)—a work for baritone, chorus, and orchestra. The James Bates arrangement features: All in the Morning, The Twelve Apostles, Awake Good People, Down In Yon Forrest, The Truth Sent from Above, There Was a Star, The Birth of the Savior, A Virgin Most Pure, Somerset Carol, Sussex Carol, and Snow in the Street.

These carols are each written in a four part homophonic chorale style. While intended for trombone quartet they will also likely work well for four part trombone choir. In terms of key and range, these are set perfectly. In ten of the eleven carols the first trombone part never exceeds a¹, although it plays up to c² in the other carol. The bass trombone part never plays below C and can easily be covered on a large bore tenor trombone with F-attachment. The first two parts are written in tenor clef, which may challenge less experienced ensembles.

These are beautiful harmonizations of English Christmas carol melodies that are perfectly set for trombones, a refreshing addition to any holiday program. It should also be mentioned that all the proceeds from the sale of this music will go to the Laura W. and Emory B. Remington Memorial Fund at the Eastman School of Music.