Fen and Flood - A Cantata (with works by Vaughan Williams)

Vaughan Williams completed The Garden of Proserpine in 1899 and the work was begun in 1897 or 1898. For the twenty-something composer, it was a first attempt at a large-scale work, 489 bars long (at 24 minutes) for soprano soloist, chorus and full orchestra. Given that Vaughan Williams had only produced a handful of songs and some chamber pieces by this date, it is an impressive achievement that, in the closing pages, achieves that combination of radiance and nobility that is so characteristic of this composer in his later works. This is a premier recording.

In the Fen Country was completed in 1904 and first performed in 1909 by Thomas Beecham, the melodic outlines and the spirit of folk music is prevalent in this work.

Hadley's Fen and Flood was inspired by the devastating events of the night of January 31 1953 when a deadly hurricane force wind created a storm tide up to 18 feet above mean sea level. Overall 2,400 people both here and in The Netherlands lost their lives. Vaughan Williams persuaded his friend Hadley to allow him to arrange the work for SATB. The new arrangement was first performed in 1956 and was dedicated to Vaughan Williams. This is a world premier recording.

The recording was recorded at The Lighthouse Poole with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paul Daniel with soloists Jane Irwin, Mary Bevan, Leigh Melrose and the Joyful Company of Singers under Peter Broadbent.