City of London Sinfonia (CLS) Folk Tunes Tall Tales series, is a musical journey through the traditions and folk stories of the British Isles and destinations further afield, from Russia to the Appalachians. Throughout the season CLS will collaborate with musicians from different genres along with dancers and performance artists to evoke sights, sounds, and story-telling traditions from around the globe.

On 20 December 2016 CLS present An English Folk Christmas by Candlelight at St John’s Smith Square, a celebratory evening of traditional Christmas folk tunes and tales from around the country. The programme features Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols and This is the Truth Sent from Above, one of several folk tunes preserved and popularised by the composer, which he transcribed in 1909 from a collection of Herefordshire folk music. Choral pieces include Warlock’s Bethlehem Down, Bolton’s A Garland of Carols and Stephen Cleobury’s Shropshire Carol.

CLS are joined by the Holst Singers and guest conductor Jeremy Cole, who conducts the programme along with CLS Principal Conductor Michael Collins.

For more info and tickets CLICK HERE