English Village Carols: Brattleboro
Schedule
Sun Nov 02 2025 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro VT 05301 | Brattleboro, VT
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The Brattleboro Music Center, Revels North and Upper Valley Music Center are joining forces to present a 6-week course exploring the world of the English Village Carol.There is a fantastic repertoire of seasonal carols that became separated from the church and are kept alive by communities in pubs and on the street, most famously in Sheffield, UK. They are also found in Derbyshire, Somerset, Dorset, Nottinghamshire – and in Glen Rock, PA! You will recognize some of these carols from Nowell Sing We Clear, Revels North, or Welcome Yule. Some carols will be familiar to English folk enthusiasts while others will be brand new to everyone.
Come explore the catchy tunes of these carols: some rowdy, some haunting and somber. Many have fantastic fugal entries, and all are a joy to sing. Many have religious text, although this is largely a secular tradition. There will be familiar lyrics, obscure lyrics, and some lyrics that appear to have no festive content whatsoever. There is plenty of repetition for ease of joining in and gorgeous rich chords with space to add your own harmonies.
Printed music will be available but you do not need to read music to participate since teaching will be “by ear.” Participants will memorize melody and bass lines and learn how to add harmonies in preparation for some village carol sings in local pubs in December. Please note this is not a choir, it is a learning group with the opportunity to anchor a fabulous community sing at which all are welcome!
There will be public carol sings at area venues: dates and details to follow.
The class is led by Laurel Swift and Alex Cumming, and is being offered both in Brattleboro, by the Music Center, and in Lebanon NH, by Upper Valley Music Center. Please sign up with the organization running the course where you will attend!
2025 DATES: (All Sundays): November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and December 7. 6-7:30 pm.
At the Brattleboro Music Center, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro VT 05301
Tuition for the course is $125 for 6 classes, and there are scholarships available.
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Where is it happening?
72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro VT 05301, 39 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301-3263, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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