EFDSS News

Carols from Exmoor: Paul Wilson leads the singing.

Long before King’s College’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols set the style for carol services and concerts, many communities in England had their own Christmas carols. The music – and sometimes the words – were often locally or regionally composed, with the songs being performed through the night on Christmas Eve, or in church, or even in the pub. 'While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night’ was a standard set of words that was sung to a variety of tunes. Today, this local carol tradition prospers in the Sheffield and Derbyshire Peak District areas.

In other parts of the country, similar carolling traditions are being revived – such as the carols on Exmoor. Devon-based Wren Music has helped stimulate renewed interest in these carols, and a feature about the carols is included in the latest issue of English Dance & Song (EDS) magazine. Written by Paul Wilson, the article, ‘Come Sing for the Season’, describes the carols and the recent revival.

Cecil Sharp House, home to the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), will host the annual A Ceremony of Customs and Carols on 16 December, Bella Hardy on 13 December and The Mellstock Band on 22 December.

Other folk-music based Christmas concerts and events

Belshazzar’s Feast ‘Stocking Fillers’ show

The Albion Christmas Band tour

John Kirkpatrick ‘Carolling and Crumpets’ tour

Bella Hardy’s ‘Bright Morning Star’ tour

‘A Tale of Two Christmases’ tour from The Mellstock Band

Details of two new publications on the Sheffield and Derbyshire carols, compiled by Ian Russell, and further information on the Sheffield and Derbyshire carols are available on www.villagecarols.org.uk and www.localcarols.org.uk.

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English Dance & Song (EDS) is the longest-established magazine devoted to folk music, dance and song in England. First published in 1936, it has appeared at least four times a year ever since. EDS exists to interest, inform and stimulate Members of EFDSS. More info

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EFDSS News

22-05-2013 - Recording The New Penguins

22-05-2013 - Blowzabella Anniversary

17-05-2013 - Sound and audio visual collections temporarily unavailable

10-05-2013 - Win tickets to The Full English Digital Archive Launch

29-04-2013 - Songlines Music Awards Prize Draw

26-04-2013 - Opportunity to tender: catering at Cecil Sharp House

17-04-2013 - An interview with Lisa Knapp

16-04-2013 - Folk Nations - a musical conversation at the Southbank Centre

04-04-2013 - May Events & Summer Classes at Cecil Sharp House

01-04-2013 - May folk tradition: Jack-in-the-Green

28-03-2013 - The Full English Tour: line up unveiled

28-03-2013 - Volunteer with EFDSS

14-03-2013 - Exhibition: Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids

01-03-2013 - Maz O’Connor awarded a BBC Fellowship

27-02-2013 - Radio Folks, featured in EDS magazine

26-02-2013 - Folk Educators in Derby, featured in EDS magazine

25-02-2013 - Playford Liberation Front, featured in EDS magazine

20-02-2013 - New edition of the Sword Dance Bibliography

18-02-2013 - Cecil Sharp House featured in the Bible of British Taste

15-02-2013 - Sam Lee writes about another side of English folk

12-02-2013 - EFDSS at Folk Alliance 2013

24-01-2013 - EFDSS awarded Arts Council England capital grant

21-01-2013 - Spotlight England on The Wireless

18-01-2013 - EFDSS and the British Music Experience present...

18-01-2013 - Spotlight England preview concerts in London

15-01-2013 - Martin Carthy featured on Desert Island Discs

15-01-2013 - The Estella Canziani Post-Graduate Bursary for Research

15-01-2013 - Music sculptor's solar powered harp used on Björk tour

15-01-2013 - Project Announcement: Kolkata Music Residency

13-12-2012 - Fay Hield Commission to Create New Work From The Full English Archive

10-12-2012 - Whapweasel

10-12-2012 - Twelve Months of Folk Festivals

10-12-2012 - Christmas Music

26-11-2012 - When Dylan Met The London Folk

21-11-2012 - Complimentary drink when dining at Côte Brasserie Camden for EFDSS audiences at Cecil Sharp House

16-11-2012 - Winter/Spring Concert Series: January – April 2013

12-11-2012 - New Roots 2013: competition for young musicians

05-10-2012 - Changes to the Live Music Act 2012

27-09-2012 - Rapper - The Miners' Sword Dance of North East England

27-09-2012 - Mercury Prize 2012

09-08-2012 - Announcement: Creative Artist Residencies

22-08-2011 - World Event Young Artists seeks cultural team GB for 2012

Archive News

20-05-2013 - Temporary phone disruption at Cecil Sharp House

20-05-2013 - Temporary phone disruption at Cecil Sharp House

08-05-2013 - Pride And Prejudice: Having A Ball

22-04-2013 - Win a family ticket to May in a Day!

28-03-2013 - Easter weekend building closure

Christmas Music

10-12-2012

Christmas Music

Other folk-music based Christmas concerts and events