Christmas with Sir G.A. Macfarren (long)

[edurban]

I'm putting in a request with Santa for next year: "Please, old man, move some enlightened company to record George Macfarren's cantata 'Christmas'.  I know the words are by his crummy-and-often-used librettist John Oxenford, but I'm willing to overlook that -- from contemporary descriptions this work sounds like real fun.  I hope the score and parts survive.  And can you throw in Victorian Opera Northwest's soon-to-be-released recording of Macfarren's opera 'Robin Hood': http://www.victorianoperanorthwest.org.uk/RobinHood.htm "

The following description of 'Christmas' appears in George Upton's 1888 book 'The Standard Cantatas'(!!)  The words of the final chorus are omitted.  I particularly enjoy the way the 'Christmas story' turns into a blood-bath:

"'Christmas,' the poem by John Oxenford, was written in 1859, and was first performed at one of the concerts of the Musical Society of London, on the 9th of May 1860.  The poem itself contains no story.  It is merely a tribute to the season; but at the same time it is not destitute of incident, so that it possesses considerable dramatic interest.

After a short instrumental introduction the cantata  opens with a double chorus in antiphonal style, in which both the bright and dark sides of winter are celebrated.  The second choir takes up the theme:-

     "The trees lift up their branches bare
        Against the sky:
        Through the keen and nipping air
        For Spring's return they seem to cry,
        As the winds with solemn tone
        About them sadly moan;"

And the first choir replies:-

     "Old Winter's hand is always free,
       He scatters diamonds round;
       They dart their light from every tree,
       They glisten on the ground,
       Then who shall call the branches bare,
       When gems like those are sparkling there?"

The two then join and bring their friendly contest to a close:-

2nd Choir.- "Come in, and closely shut the door
                      Against the wintry weather;
                     Of frost and snow we'll think no more,
                        While round the fire we sit together."

1st Choir.- "Rush out from every cottage door,
                   'T is brave and bracing weather;
                     A madder throng ne'er met before,
                    Than those which now have come together.

This double number, which is very effective, is followed by a soprano recitative and romance ("Welcome, blest Season"), tender and yet joyous in character,  which celebrates the delight of friendly reunions at Christmas tide, and the pleasure with which those long absent seek "the old familiar door."  In the next number, an old English carol ("A Blessing on the noble House and all who in it dwell"), Christmas is fairly introduced.  It is sung first in unison by the full chorus, then changes to harmony, in which one choir retains the melody, and closes with a new subject for orchestral treatment, the united choirs singing the carol.  Christmas would not be complete without its story; and this we have in the next number for contralto solo and chorus, entitled, "A Christmas Tale."  It is preceded by recitative, written in the old English style, and each verse closes with a refrain, first sung as a solo, and then repeated in full harmony by the chorus:-

     "A bleak and kindless morning had broke on Althenay,
       Where shunning Danish foemen the good King Alfred lay;
       'In search of food our hunters departed long ago,
        I fear that they have perished, imbedded in the snow.'
       While thus he sadly muses, an aged man he sees,
       With white hair on his forehead like the frost upon the trees.
        An image of the winter the haggard pilgrim stands,
     And breathing forth his sorrows, lifts up his withered hands:
           'The Heavenly King, who reigns on high,
            Bless him who hears the poor man's cry.'

"'Our hearts are moved with pity, thy sufferings we deplore,'
   Said Alfred's queen, the gentle, 'but scanty is our store;
   One loaf alone is left us.'  'Then give it,' said the King,
  'For He who feeds the ravens, yes, He will fresh abundance bring.'
   The wind was roaring loudly, the snow was falling fast,
   As from the lofty turret the last, last loaf he cast.
   An image of the winter, the haggard pilgrim stands,
   And Alfred's welcome pittance he catches in his hands.
          'The Heavenly King, who reigns on high,
           Bless him who hears the poor man's cry.'

"The snow is thickly falling, the winter wind is loud,
  But yonder in the distance appears a joyous crowd.
  The hunters bring their booty, the peasants bring their corn,
  And cheering songs of triumph along the blast are borne.
  Before another morning, down-stricken is the foe,
  And blood of Danish warriors is red upon the snow.
  Amid the conquering Saxons the aged pilgrim stands,
  And like a holy prophet exclaims with lifted hands,
         'The Heavenly King, who reigns on high,
           Bless him who hears the poor man's cry.'"

A graceful little duet for female voices ("Little Children, all rejoice") picturing the delights of childhood and its exemption from care, follows the Saxon story and leads up to the finale, which is choral throughout, and gives all the pleasant details of Christmas cheer, - the feast in the vaulted hall, the baron of beef, the boar with a lemon in his jaw, the pudding, "gem of all the feast," the generous wassail, and the mistletoe bough with its warning to maids.  In delightfuly picturesque old English music the joyous scene comes to an end."

[Pengelli]

Let's hope 'Lurline' sells,then!

[Mark Thomas]

I'm a sucker for the festuive stuff. It would be good to hear Macfarren's "Christmas", but I'm very happy to see that his "Robin Hood" is going to be issued on CD. Who'd have thought it? What with Chandos bringing out Sullivan's "Ivanhoe" next year (glory be!), maybe we're in for an English opera revival on CD?

[edurban]

The recording date for the Macfarren Robin Hood project has been pushed back to Spring, 2010, so it will be awhile before the actual cds see the light of day...

David