Shepherds Arise! Old Sussex Carols, dance tunes, Mummers' Play dress rehearsal

About

N.B. This is a dress rehearsal.

A selection of beautiful old West Gallery carols from Sussex villages accompanied by flute, fiddles, serpent, bassoon, clarinet, concertinas and recorder.  Between the carols are readings about Christmas in Sussex in the past, and the musicians play lively dance tunes from old Sussex manuscripts.  There is also a Sussex Mummers' play.  As always, there will be some old favourites and some new additions.

This is a lovely celebration of Christmas from earlier centuries, still full of the joy and delight it gave then.

The carols and dance tunes are from 18th and 19th century handwritten manuscripts mostly held at Barbican House, Lewes, by the Sussex Archaeological Society.  In 1982 a selection of the dance tunes was assembled by Dr. Vic Gammon and Anne Loughran and published as 'A Sussex Tune Book' by the English Folk Dance & Song Society.

Dr. Gammon also researched the carols and gathered musicians and singers to perform them under the name 'Hope In The Valley' 46 years ago.  Mary Motley directed Hope In The Valley when Dr. Gammon moved from Sussex.

The current group was assembled by Stuart Walker in 2013 to bring this beautiful collection of old Sussex music back to life.  In Mary Motley took up the baton again from 2021-2023 and Stuart returned last year.

Other performances this year are at:  St. Peter's Church Henfield, Sunday 7 December, 2:30-4:30 pm St. Andrew's Church Steyning, Sunday 14 December, 2:30–4:30 pm St Margaret's Church Rottingdean, Sunday 21 December, 2:30–4:30 pm 

Lewes Saturday Folk Club, Saturday 27 December  Elephant & Castle, BN7 2DJ (£8, 8:00 p.m.) St Michael in Lewes, Sunday 4 January, 2:30 – 4:30 p. Free admission with collection for church funds at all church performances