1928 was an important year for carols. It was then that the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first broadcast live from King's College, Cambridge. In addition, the Oxford Book of Carols was published in that year. This book was the brainchild of the preacher Perce Dearmer, the organist Martin Shaw and composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The trio had previously been responsible for the
… composition and publication of the equally memorable English Hymnal of 1906. The aim of the Oxford Book of Carols was to put a stop to the outdated Victorian sentiments. Rather, a broad selection was made, from all times and countries. But with a preference for folksongs, to stay as close as possible to the singing of ordinary people. Remarkably enough the collection also includes carols for other occasions than Christmas and Advent, such as Easter or the harvest. This is not entirely illogical. Until the Renaissance a carol could be anything: a popular religious song, a polyphonic piece, or a dance song at the court of Henry VIII. Most songs on this CD are from the Oxford Book of Carols, in choral settings by Vaughan Williams. (HJ)more
