DESCRIPTION:
Ralph Vaughan Williams -- "Folksongs of the Four Seasons" part II "SUMMER"
00:00: Intro lsmuziek
00:08 1.[4] Summer is a-coming in and the Cuckoo
04:17 2.[5] The Sprig of Thyme
07:23 3.[6] The Sheep Shearing
10:26 4.[7] The Green Meadow
Female choir "Genti": Silver Jubilee/25th Anniversary

In a packed concert hall of R.I.C.K., school of music in the city of Weert, the Netherlands, GENTI gave their jubilee concert. The main piece of the concert "Folksongs of the Four Seasons" by Ralph Vaughan Williams was a performance of the integral composition (16 songs), beautifully performed not only by the choir, but also by the pianist, Hans Heykers, and the string quintet "Musica Eyckensis" conducted by Rita Scheffers, a skilled choirmaster.


The "Folk Songs of the Four Seasons" also called "Cantata for Women's Voices" is a substantial work by Vaughan Williams, over 40 minutes long, for women's chorus and orchestra, in which two vital elements in Vaughan Williams' musical character were combined: his support for amateur music making and his love for English folksongs and --carols. The work was commissioned by the National Federation of Women's Institutes for their first "Singing Festival" in 1950.
In the calendar Vaughan Williams found the unifying roles to bind the work together like he himself said: 'The subject of our folk-songs, whether they deal with romance, tragedy, conviviality or loyalty, have a background of nature and its seasons'. He chose folk-songs of his own collection and enjoyed reminding himself of these lovely tunes/melodies which also changed profoundly his own music.
The first performance took place at the Royal Albert Hall on 15 June 1950, with the Women's Institute forces joined by the London Symphony Orchestra, under Sir Adrian Boult. As Ursula Vaughan Williams remembered "the audience seemed far fewer than the performers". She also remarked on the 'freshness and sweetness' of the voices.
The work has a Prologue and four sections: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

In this video we can listen to part II "SUMMER".

1. [4] Summer is a-coming in and The Cuckoo (Full chorus and semi-chorus).
Vaughan Williams enjoyed the inclusion of Summer is a-coming in. He described it as supposedly by a 13th century monk – John of Forncete– ‘but in its freedom and grace it was really a folk-tune’. The Cuckoo is from Cecil Sharp’s collection, providing a gentle contrast with the boisterous Summer is a-coming in.

2. [5] The Sprig of Thyme (Full chorus, with descant).
Collected by Vaughan Williams in 1904 this is a lyrical song full of flower symbolism – let no-one steal your thyme (virginity).

3. [6] The Sheep Shearing (For two voices, unaccompanied).
A sweet, plaintive melody, from Cecil Sharp’s collection, also used most evocatively by Holst in his Somerset Rhapsody. Holst said it was his favourite folk-song.

4. [7] The Green Meadow (Unison - all voices)
Also known as The Lawyer, it is taken from George Butterworth's collection and has this tranquillo closing verse: And now she is a poor man's wife Her husband dearly loves her She lives a sweet contented life No lady in town is above her.


Performers:
Female choir "Genti"
String quintet: "Musica Eyckensis"
Pianist: Hans Heykers
Conductor: Rita Scheffers
Recording date: Sunday, November 27, 2011
Recording location: Concert hall R.I.C.K.
Recording place: Weert (The Netherlands)
Recording studio: LS Muziekregistratie/Live-recording
Recording engineer: Leo Stratermans
Recording system: OCT-system
Recording software: ProTools 9.0
Microphones: AKG-414ULS
Microphones: Neumann TLM103 & KM184
Mastering: Waves 360°Surround Plug-ins & TC Electronics Finalizer 96K
Photographs & video-animation: Leo Stratermans
Website: http://www.lsmuziekregistratie.nl
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leo-stratermans/8/654/8b9
Microphone placement:
+ OCT-surround system 5.0
Front L&R AKG 414ULS super cardioid 90°graden
Center AKG 414ULS cardioid
SL&SR Neumann KM184 cardioid
+ XY-stereo (L-R) -- string quintet /piano/double bass
Neumann KM184 cardioid