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Ralph Vaughan Williams' Prelude on an Old Carol Tune is a short yet evocative orchestral piece for chamber orchestra, composed in 1953. It is based on the traditional carol On Christmas Night the Joy-Bells Ring, a lesser-known variant of the Sussex Carol. Originally written as part of Vaughan Williams’ incidental music for the 1951 BBC adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge, the prelude was later adapted into a standalone concert work. It exemplifies the composer’s gift for transforming folk and hymn melodies into richly textured, expressive orchestral pieces, blending the carol’s simplicity with his signature pastoral style.

Scored for a small ensemble, the piece unfolds with warm harmonies and flowing lines, moving between moments of quiet reflection and gentle crescendos. Vaughan Williams’ characteristic use of modal harmonies and subtle orchestration gives the work a contemplative yet uplifting quality. Though modest in length, Prelude on an Old Carol Tune carries a deep sense of nostalgia and reverence, making it a charming and atmospheric addition to Vaughan Williams’ late orchestral output.