"1922"

In Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary year, we look back a century...

The 1920s witnessed major political upheaval and economic problems across Europe. At the same time artistic creativity was also clearly in evidence.

1922 saw the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses and new sacred music by Vaughan Williams and Holst, mixing modern English harmonisation with sixteenth-century choral tradition. The follower of Arnold Schoenberg, Frank Martin, wrote most of his Mass for double choir, but he did not allow its performance until 1963.

These choral works are interspersed with readings from 1922 and a world premiere of a piece written by Adrian Self, commissioned by Levens Choir to celebrate Ian Jones’ 46 years as Music Director.