"One Christmas--years agone now, years--I went the rounds wi' the Weatherbury quire. 'Twas a hard frosty night, and the keys of all the clar'nets froze"Join the Thomas Hardy Society with The New Hardy Players and Alastair Braidwood leading Musicians, Singers and Players to recreate The Mellstock Quire Going the Rounds as portrayed in 'Under the Greenwood Tree' by Thomas Hardy. Hear Hardy’s words spoken by authentic Dorset voices, and the Christmas carols of former years, rarely heard anymore, sung in the settings the novelist knew from his childhood.
“Now mind, neighbours,” he said, as they all went out one by one at the door, he himself holding it ajar and regarding them with a critical face as they passed, like a shepherd counting out his sheep. “You two counter-boys, keep your ears open to Michael’s fingering, and don’t ye go straying into the treble part along o’ Dick and his set, as ye did last year; and mind this especially when we be in ‘Arise, and hail.’ Billy Chimlen, don’t you sing quite so raving mad as you fain would; and, all o’ ye, whatever ye do, keep from making a great scuffle on the ground when we go in at people’s gates; but go quietly, so as to strike up all of a sudden, like spirits.”
Ticket price to include mulled wine and a mince pie.
Please note: wrap up warm, wear stout footwear and carry a torch as paths are uneven in places.
Event Venue
Hardy's Birthplace and Thorncombe Wood, Higher Bockhampton,Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
