Vaughan Williams' "Old King Cole"

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Vaughan Williams - Old King Cole



This is the only work in the output of Vaughan Williams officially designated a ballet, though there are several compositions, like Job (1927 - 1930), described as a "masque for dancing." The composer wrote Old King Cole for the English Folk Dance Society's Cambridge branch, which premiered the work on June 5, 1923, at Trinity College. Its story centers on an evening's entertainment the King of Colchester is giving for his daughter, Helena. After he accepts the gift of a pipe from her, he summons three fiddlers. It is decided that his daughter will bestow a prize upon the most talented of them. After their performances, however, it is the King who declares the third fiddler the winner, without consulting his daughter, who would have awarded the prize to the second.

The ballet, scored for orchestra and optional (wordless) chorus, is divided into nine continuous sections, the first representing the King. The music here is festive and light, its humor perhaps a little too obvious and its colors quite garish. The "Pipe Dance" follows, a mostly mellow and dreamy piece in its first half, featuring lovely writing for reeds, and regal and bombastic in the latter portion.

The menacing "Bowl Dance" comes next, a colorful, short dance whose somewhat exotic sonorities augur the music in Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 8 (1953 - 1955; rev. 1956). The fiddlers enter the scene in the ballet at this point, and the ensuing three dances represent their respective attempts at the prize. The first fiddler, a gypsy, plays the Morris Jig, "Go and 'list for a sailor." The music is short and lively here, the orchestral accompaniment boisterous and colorful. The second fiddler delivers a rendition of the folk song, "A bold young farmer," a passionate and lovely piece, probably containing the best music in the ballet. Some of the solo writing here is reminiscent of Vaughan Williams' gossamer The Lark Ascending (1914; rev. 1920).

The last of the fiddlers plays a version of the folk melody, "The Jolly Thresherman," a lively, humorous piece whose violin part is rather secondary to the orchestra's role. Vaughan Williams' orchestration here, in tutti sections and more lightly-scored passages alike, is brilliantly conceived, capturing the folkish and humorous character of the thematic material without turning bombastic even in louder sections. The last number in the work, the "Solo Jig," is lively and colorful in the first half, but recalls the second violinist's theme in the latter half: in the ballet, after the third fiddler is given the award, the King leads everyone off to dine, but the second fiddler remains and plays his lovely, haunting theme as he walks slowly away. Helena hears his music and tosses him a rose, which he fails to take note of.

This ballet lasts about 22 minutes, and while it is not a great masterpiece, it is a fine light work deserving of greater attention than it has generally received.

[Article taken from All Music Guide]

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Apparently, hardly any recordings exist of this ballet. I have not heard Hickox's performance, but hope to possibly gain some more insight into it from other GMG who have heard it. The article acknowledges that it isn't a masterpiece (not many works can be anyway), but what do you think about it? Why is it tucked under so many other RVW works and seldom performed? The audio samples I heard sounded great.

[listener]

Vaughan Williams - Old King Cole
Apparently, hardly any recordings exist of this ballet. I have not heard Hickox's performance, but hope to possibly gain some more insight into it from other GMG who have heard it.

I've got it, somewhere.  FYI the EMI number was CDC 749 770
A closer look in my under construction database shows it with Flos Campi, the 49^th Parallel and Sea Songs.   

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I've got it, somewhere.  FYI the EMI number was CDC 749 770

Yes, I bought the 2-CD Hickox Conducts Vaughan Williams set the other day and it contains Old King Cole.

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So no feedback on this ballet? Not even from Henning?

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I think that it's a great piece and have several recordings - one with VW conducting I think. I much prefer this work to 'The Wasps' for example.  It has some lovely moments.

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I think that it's a great piece and have several recordings - one with VW conducting I think. I much prefer this work to 'The Wasps' for example.  It has some lovely moments.

Thanks for mentioning The Wasps. I need to re-listen to this work.

[vandermolen]

Here is a recording of Vaughan Williams conducting 'Old King Cole' in 1925 - in a collection of interesting recordings literally found in Vaughan Williams's attic. My favourite section of Old King Cole is the 'Pipe Dance', the climax of which I find oddly moving.

The CD is inexpensive in the UK c £5.00
[asin]B001O43SR8[/asin]

Image wont appear but if you type 'Vaughan Williams's attic' into Amazon UK it will turn up.

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Here is a recording of Vaughan Williams conducting 'Old King Cole' in 1925 - in a collection of interesting recordings literally found in Vaughan Williams's attic. My favourite section of Old King Cole is the 'Pipe Dance', the climax of which I find oddly moving.

The CD is inexpensive in the UK c £5.00
[asin]B001O43SR8[/asin]

Image wont appear but if you type 'Vaughan Williams's attic' into Amazon UK it will turn up.

Great minds think alike, Pipe Dance is the only movement I've heard from this ballet and I think it's just beautiful. Thanks for the link. Can't wait to hear Hickox's performance in its' entirety.