Bethlehem Down

This carol composed by Peter Warlock and set to a poem by Bruce Blunt is a popular anthem used in the Anglican church during the liturgical seasons of Christmastide and Epiphany. Warlock wrote it to finance an “immortal carouse” (a heavy bout of drinking) on Christmas Eve 1927 for himself and Blunt, who were experiencing financial difficulty. The pair submitted the carol to The Daily Telegraph’s annual Christmas carol contest and won.