PROGRAM NOTE In 1920 Ralph Vaughan Williams composed three preludes for orgar. based on Welsh hymn tunes, 2 set tha: quickly established itself in the organ repertoire, Of the three, Rhosymedre, sometimes known as "Lovely", has become the most popular. ‘The hymn tune used in this prelude was written by a 19th century Welsh composer, J. D, Edwards, and is a very simple melody made up almost entirely of sczle tones and upbest skips of a fourth. Yet, around this modes: tune Vaughan Williams has con~ structed a piece of grand proportions, with a broad are that soars with the gradual rise of tke tune itself, The hymn tune in long values is surrounded by a moving bass line end a treble obbligato in faster notes often characterized by descending sixths. Vaughan Williams has joined together hymn tune, bass and obligato in such a way as to create an exceedingly fresh and ingratiating tonal language, which seems all the more re- markable when one discovers from the score that there is scarcely an accidental in the entire piece. This publication of Rhosymedre for band by Walter Beeler, well known American band conductor and arranger, coincides with the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1872, Gloucestershire, England. INSTRUMENTATION 8 Flute [ 2 Alto Sax I 3 Cornet I 3 Flutes II & IT 2 Alto Sax IT 3 Cornet I 2 Oboes I & II 2 Tenor Sax 2 Horns 1 € IT 4 Clarinet 1 2 Baritone Sax 2 Horns Il & IV 4 Clarinet II 1 Bassoon T 2 Trombone I 4 Clarinet I 1 Bassoon I 4 Trombones II & IIT 2 Eb Alto Clarinet 1 Eb Contrabass Clarinet 2 Baritone 2 Bb Bass Clarinet 3 Cornet I 6 Basses 1 Timpeni and Chimes Duration: 4 minutesRHOSYMEDRE Prelude on a Welsh Hymn Tune Raph Vaughan Williams Andantino carr fu Band by Waller Beeler jst 2b bod Bb tora 5b fs atta shot pase pst E> Alto nd Eb ato fab tenor euzozvouse Jeb pariton| eb Contra ‘use Clarinet ‘Trombone 13 Baritone Basees smpani eines = Copyright (1972 by Galaxy Music Corporation Printed i U.S.A, nL Rights Reservag ONTENO28P Ey Taterna‘icnal Copyright Secured ‘Sreanged {som #2 ofthe "Three Preludes for Organ’ copyr ght 195) ty Suinor & Bell, Ltd.