Fantasia on Christmas Carols was composed in 1912 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) and stands as one of the composer's most beloved expressions of English folk-inspired sacred music. Written for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra, the work draws upon several traditional English Christmas carols - including "The Truth Sent from Above," "Come All You Worthy Gentlemen," and "On Christmas Night" - which Vaughan Williams had encountered during his extensive folk-song collecting throughout rural England. The piece premiered on September 4, 1912, at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford Cathedral, conducted by the composer, showcasing the early 20th-century revival of English musical nationalism and renewed interest in native folk traditions. Rather than simply arranging carols, Vaughan Williams weaves them into a continuous, richly atmospheric meditation on the Nativity, blending modal harmonies (E Phrygian) with expansive orchestral sonorities. Fantasia on Christmas Carols remains a cornerstone of the Christmas choral repertoire, frequently performed during the holiday season. Reprint edition. The corresponding set of score and parts is available from Edwin F. Kalmus (A767502).