The Vagabond is based on words written by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). With their saucy praise of the life on the road and the freedom of nature, they are reminders of the ancient traditions of the wanderer. But the musical elaboration is far from being just simple and popular : Ralph Vaughan Williams employs refined means of composition, in order to realize varied colors and moods ; and he offers the voice the possibility to sing magnificent phrasing and to evoke strong emotional impact.

Vaughan Williams arranged these carols during World War 1 for the 'choir' he developed among the men in his Field Ambulance unit. In 1917 they were stationed in Greece, near Katerini, on a hillside with Mount Olympus towering above. Ursula Vaughan Williams writes 'Another experince, which no one who was there forgot, was carol singing on Christmas Eve: snow-capped Olympus, the clear night, the stars, and Ralph's choir singing carols of Hereford and Sussex with passionate nostaglia. The choir made that Christmas so far from home one that had a special quality, a special beauty, long remembered.'

Here's a collection from the great English composer of his original arrangements of three Shakespeare songs, two from 'The Tempest' and one from 'Midsummer Night's Dream'. These are classics!