Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) – Five Variants
of Dives and Lazarus
According to Vaughan Williams, “These variants are not exact
replicas of original tunes, but rather reminiscent of various versions
in my own collection and those of others.” Nevertheless, some
– even some experts, and the authors of a GCSE students’
guide – insist on reading “VARIANTS OF” as “VARIATIONS
ON”. Others misconstrue more ingeniously – one writer,
for example, clearly thinking in terms of “cover versions”
and “record collections”!
In fact VW, having fallen in love with the eponymous folk song in
1893, discovered that its tune was just one of numerous regional adaptations,
to widely differing texts, of some unknown prototype. By its nature
this would have predated the earliest known manuscript – the
Sixteenth Century carol, Come All Ye Faithful Christians. Thus, Dives
and Lazarus itself is a variant, and VW’s composition something
of an “Enigma Variants”.
Of course, VW’s whole point was simply that, when he composed
the Five Variants, he didn’t transcribe the tunes from the collections,
but trusted to his memory. Nonetheless, “his” variants
display an evolutionary variety belying Lambert’s famous complaint
about the intractability of folk tunes.
VW scored his Variants for seven-part strings – partly, I’d
hazard, attempting to preserve the purity of the modal scales –
and harp(s), weaving the tunes into a characteristically exquisite
contrapuntal tapestry, whose quintessential Englishness made it an
apt – and poignant – contribution to the 1939 New York
World Fair.
As the almost seamless flow transports your soul (which it will!),
it is all-too-easy to lose track – so here are some signposts:
1. (Dives and Lazarus) Introductory phrase; stately, once in succulent
splendour, once as wistful variation.
2. Takes on a delectable, dancing lilt.
3. Flowing phrases, leading to big climax.
4. Reminiscence of introductory phrase; solo violin and harp.
5. Lively, jig-like crescendo and climax.
6. Radiantly sonorous processional; solo cello, dreamy nostalgia (at
this point, you may sigh).
© Paul Serotsky, 2012
.
© Paul Serotsky
,
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