The hidden folk history of Christmas carols

Caroling on Twelfth Night

Independable English weather (Twelfth Night in London)

“Forest Green” (O Little Town of Bethlehem) in The English Hymnal, 1906

Wassailing at Twelfth Night celebrations in London

By Stephen Pritchard, 12 December 2024

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“every day some old village singer dies and half a dozen melodies are lost to the world for ever”

Bachtrack, 5th December

What do you buy for the culture lover in your life who seems to have everything? Here are some music and dance-related gifts that Bachtrack staff are giving or hoping to receive for Christmas this year.

Bachtrack top ten: Gustav Holst

Mark Pullinger, 21st September

Gustav Holst is famous for his astrological orchestral suite The Planets, but there’s more to discover in his eclectic catalogue, particularly inspired by his interests in travel and Hindu literature.

An alternative choral Christmas

Hugh Morris, 21st December

Exploring choral selections from Sweden, Chile, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Dominica and Nigeria, to bring a variety of festive splendour to the end of this year.

Bachtrack top ten: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Mark Pullinger, 12th October

Mark Pullinger celebrates this quintessentially English composer with a list of RVW's most inspiring works.

Fight or flight? Violinists on tackling The Lark Ascending

Kevin W Ng, 5th October

Often dismissed on account of its popularity, The Lark Ascending divides audiences... and players. Our own Kevin Ng is a violinist and avoided it for years, but took advice from three violinists when adding it to his repertoire.

The work of a lifetime: The Pilgrim’s Progress

Roy Westbrook, 5th October

John Bunyan's allegory occupied Ralph Vaughan Williams for a lifetime, culminating in the 1951 stage work, premiered at Covent Garden. Roy Westbrook follows the composer's progress...

Stephen Pritchard

Stephen Pritchard began singing as a treble at the age of eight and progressed to become a tenor in Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, the Gibbons Consort and now the English Chamber Choir. Writing about music has been at the core of his 40-year career in journalism, chiefly at the Observer. He has been known to play a pretty mean jazz double bass.