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A selection of beautiful old West Gallery carols from Sussex villages accompanied by flute, fiddles, serpent, bassoon, clarinet, concertinas & 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 & 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' forty-six 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 & Stuart returns this year.
Church performances this year are at
St John the Evangelist, Eastbourne, Sunday 1st. December, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
St Laurence’s Church, Falmer, Sunday 8 December, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
St Mary’s Church, Sompting, Sunday 15 December, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
St Michael in Lewes, Sunday 5 January, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Free admission with collection for church funds at all church performances
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Sompting, Lancing, West Sussex, Worthing, United Kingdom
