English Christmas Festival is the result of a challenge from Kew Wind Orchestra - write a Christmas medley with no overlap with the Leroy Anderson Christmas Festival. It is based upon six English Carols - Forest Green (O Little Town of Bethlehem), The Coventry Carol, The Sussex Carol, Gloucestershire Wassail, and the composers favourite carol, Cranham (In the Bleak Midwinter) by Gustav Holst. The work is carefully scored to work for a reduced band if necessary.
