Wassail

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams (setting Robert W Smith)

Subtitle: Movement I from the Vaughan Williams Suite

General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $65.00   |   Score Only - $9.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Chimes
• Crash Cymbals
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle
• Vibraphone
• Wind Chimes

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Commissioned by and dedicated to the Coyle Middle School Band, Rowlett, Texas, under the direction of Marcia Zoffuto.

In memory and tribute to Ralph Vaughan Williams.

- Program Note from score

Robert W. Smith, in tribute to the great composer, has crafted a setting for the concert band of Wassail Song in the style of Vaughan Williams. Beginning with a lively solo statement of the melody, the clarinet choir introduces the song in its original form. Using Vaughan Williams as the inspiration, the melody is explored and restated in multiple variations using the various timbral colors of the concert band. This publication marks the first movement of Smith's Vaughan Williams Suite.

- Program Note from publisher

The Wassail Song of Gloucestershire was one of the folk songs that Ralph Vaughan Williams sought to preserve through his writing. Wassail is a centuries-old English ceremonial drink made from apple cider. The word is Saxon in origin and translates to “good health” when used as a toast. Vaughan Williams kept the music as close to its purest original state as he could. This version was commissioned by the Coyle Middle School band and premiered in 2005.

- Program Note from Cypress Symphonic Band concert program, 10 December 2016

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Iowa State University (Ames) Wind Ensemble (Michael Golemo, conductor) – 2 December 2018
• Tualatin (Ore.) Valley Community Band (Kevin Soon, conductor) – 2 December 2018
• Repasz Band (Williamsport, Penn.) (Albert J. Nacinovich, conductor) – 5 December 2017
• Cypress Symphonic Band (Houston, Tex.) (Clarence Weeks, conductor) – 10 December 2016
• Pleasanton (Calif.) Community Concert Band (H. Robert Williams, conductor) - 30 November 2014
• Triangle Wind Ensemble (Durham, N.C.) (Evan Feldman, conductor) - 15 December 2013

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Folk Songs from Somerset (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)
• My Bonny Boy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)
• Seventeen Come Sunday (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)

All Wind Works

• Concerto for Bass Tuba (arr. Wick and Chambers) (1954/1992)
• Concerto Grosso (arr. Grechesky) (1924)
• Concerto in F minor for Tuba and Winds (arr. Hare) (1954/1992)
• England's Pleasant Land (arr. Noble) (1938/2017)
• English Folk Song Suite. See: Folk Song Suite
• English Folk Song Suite (arr. Villanueva) (1924/)
• Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (arr. Bocook) (1910/2006)
• Fantasia on Greensleeves (arr. Wagner) (1934/2011)
• Five English Folk Songs (arr. Feldman) (1913/2009)
• Five Variants of "Dives and Lazarus" (arr. Gregson) (1939/2004)
• Flourish for Glorious John (or. Boyd) (1957/1998)
• Flourish for Wind Band (1939)
• Folk Song Suite (1924/2008)
• Folk Songs from Somerset (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)
• Golden Vanity, The (arr. Wagner) (1933/2009)
• I Vow to Thee, My Country (as setter; ed. Grechesky) (1921/1988)
• Lark Ascending, The (tr. Silvester) (1914/1925/2003)
• Linden Lea (arr. Wagner) (1902/2013)
• Linden Lea (arr. Stout) (1902/1984)
• The Lowlands of Scotland (arr. Daehn) (1912/2006)
• March Past of the Kitchen Utensils (arr. Erwin) (1909/2010)
• My Bonny Boy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)
• Norfolk Rhapsody (tr. Robert O'Brien) (1905)
• Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2 in D minor (tr. O'Toole) (1906/2014?)
• Overture to "The Wasps" (tr. Frank Hudson) (1909)
• Prelude, 49th Parallel (arr. van der Beek) (1960/2018)
• Prelude: 49th Parallel (arr. Noble) (1941/2014)
• Prelude: 49th Parallel (arr. Winkler) (1941/1960)
• Prelude from "49th Parallel" (tr. Osmon) (1941/1960/1987/2002)
• Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes (arr. Curnow) (1954/1982)
• Prelude: The New Commonwealth (arr. Grauer) (1940/2006)
• A Ralph Vaughan Williams Portrait (arr. Wagner) (2018)
• Rhosymedre (tr. Beeler) (1920/1972)
• Rhosymedre (tr. Johnston) (1920/2011)
• Rhosymedre (tr. Baldwin) (1920/)
• The Running Set (arr. Daehn) (1933/2007)
• Running Set, The (tr. Silvester) (1933)
• Scherzo alla Marcia (1956)
• Sea Songs (1925)
• Sea Songs (arr. Longfield) (1925/2006)
• Seventeen Come Sunday (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Huckeby) (1924/2020)
• Sine Nomine (arr. Cacavas) (1906/1998)
• Sine Nomine (arr. Houseknecht) (1906/1960)
• Sine Nomine (arr. Reed) (1906/1976)
• Songs of Travel (arr. Patterson) (1901-4)
• Three Dorset Songs (arr. Stotter) (1902-1903/2003)
• Three Studies in English Folk Song (arr. Harbinson) (1927/1999/2003)
• Toccata Marziale (1924)
• Toccata Marziale (ed Battisti) (ed. Battisti) (1924/2005)
• Variations for Wind Band (trans. Hunsberger) (1957/1988/1997)
• Vaughan Williams Christmas, A (arr. Wagner) (1999)
• Wassail (arr. Smith)

Resources

• Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Robert W. Smith." Accessed 30 November 2014
• Perusal score