A Georgian Christmas

A Georgian Christmas

From Composer of the Week by BBC Radio 3

December 26, 2025 · 1h 2m

About this episode

Donald Macleod explores the Christmas customs and music of late-Georgian Britain with historian Amanda Vickery.

Donald Macleod visits the home of Jane Austen with historian Amanda Vickery to discover some of the seasonal customs and Christmas music of late-Georgian Britain. Music featured: Thomas Clark: While Shepherds Watched William Matthews: How beauteous are their feet Anon: The Holly and the Ivy Viotti: Violin Concerto No 13 in A Major Handel: Messiah Cimarosa: L'Olimpiade: Sinfonia Thomas Wilson: Wellington's Triumph Thomas Straight: Trip to Vauxhall, Sailor Laddie Weber (orch Berlioz): Aufforderung zum Tanz Trad (arr. Townsend): Arise and Hail the Joyful Day Trad.: Awake, and join the cheerful choir Attrib. Wade (arr. Vincent Novello): O come, all ye faithful Arr. Thomas Butts: Hark! how all the welkin rings Attwood: O God, Who by the Leading of a Star Mendelssohn: The Evening Bell Jarman: There were shepherds abiding John Wainwright: Christians, awake, salute the happy morn Pleyel: Symphony No.12 in E flat Kalmar Wesley: Rondo on God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Trad: The First Nowell Anon: Remember The Poor John Hill: The people that walked in darkness Richard Charke: Harlequin Restor'd John Frederick Lampe: The Dragon of Wantley, Overture Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris…

People in this episode

Host: Donald Macleod

Guest: Amanda Vickery

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Holly and the Ivy Viotti, Violin Concerto No 13, A Major Handel, Symphony No.12, Rondo on God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Trad, Remember The Poor, Harlequin Restor'd, The Dragon of Wantley, A Georgian Christmas, Composer of the Week

Places: Britain, Vauxhall

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