Eight Weeks Until Christmas!
Only eight weeks until Christmas! The holiday season is approaching quickly, and what better way to celebrate than with some beautiful Christmas music and a little musical history?
Today, October 30, marks the birthday of English composer Peter Warlock (1894–1930), who is remembered for his beautiful songs and Christmas carols.
Born Philip Arnold Heseltine, Warlock was a composer, music critic, and scholar with a particular interest in early English music. Although he had little formal training in composition, he developed a distinctive musical style influenced by Renaissance and Elizabethan music, as well as composers such as Frederick Delius. His best-known works include the song cycle The Curlew, the instrumental Capriol Suite, and the Christmas carol Bethlehem Down.
Warlock’s life was as unconventional as his music. He adopted the pseudonym Peter Warlock for his compositions, a particularly fitting name for someone born on October 30, just one day before Halloween!
Known for his sharp wit, bohemian lifestyle, and sometimes turbulent relationships, he was a colorful and controversial figure in English musical circles. His career was tragically brief: he died in London in 1930 at just 36 years old, from coal-gas poisoning under circumstances that have led to speculation about whether his death was accidental or intentional.
The Story Behind Bethlehem Down
One of Peter Warlock’s most beloved Christmas carols, Bethlehem Down, has a rather unusual origin. In 1927, Warlock and his friend, the poet Bruce Blunt, were reportedly short of money and looking for a way to finance their Christmas celebrations. When they learned that the London newspaper The Daily Telegraph was sponsoring a Christmas carol competition with a cash prize, they decided to enter. Blunt wrote the lyrics, Warlock composed the music, and their collaboration won the competition, earning them a reported prize of £100—equivalent to approximately £5,668 (about $7,600) in 2026! The carol was published in The Daily Telegraph on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1927. You can even see the original newspaper publication, including the music, lyrics, and the announcement of the winning entry.
I first heard Bethlehem Down on Chanticleer’s recording A Chanticleer Christmas, and it quickly became one of my favorite Christmas carols. Although it was originally written for a newspaper competition, it is a deeply moving and contemplative work. Blunt’s poetry contrasts the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth with the gifts and honors traditionally associated with a king. As the verses unfold, the words foreshadow Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, giving the Christmas story a bittersweet quality. Warlock’s beautiful melodies and rich, sometimes unexpected harmonies complement the poetry, creating a carol that is both peaceful and poignant.
Listen to Bethlehem Down
Here is a beautiful performance of Bethlehem Down by the British vocal ensemble VOCES8.
Nearly a century after its composition, Bethlehem Down has become an enduring part of the English choral Christmas tradition. It is particularly associated with British church and cathedral choirs, but its appeal extends well beyond the United Kingdom. It has been performed and recorded by internationally acclaimed vocal ensembles, including Chanticleer, VOCES8, The King’s Singers, and The Sixteen. In 2015, BBC Music Magazine included it among the 25 greatest Christmas carols, as selected by a panel of choral experts from the UK and the United States.
Coming Soon: Free Sheet Music
I hope to add free sheet music arrangements of Bethlehem Down to ChristmasMusicSongs.com soon, including versions for choir, piano, and melody with chord symbols. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this beautiful carol and its fascinating history!
With Christmas just eight weeks away, there’s plenty more wonderful holiday music to explore. Be sure to check back next Friday for another edition of Welcome Christmas!