Christmas at Hampton Court Palace

On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 December 2024, I finished an incredibly busy week by playing carols with a small ensemble at Hampton Court Palace. We played Christmas music in the Great Hall and, later, a selection of carols requested by the visitors in the Presence Chamber and the Guard Chamber and . ‘Silent Night’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ (the Holst version) were among the more traditional requests. ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ and a version of the current chart-topper ‘Last Christmas’ were also popular choices. There was one request to play ‘Long, long ago’, which was completely new to all of us, but fortunately in the carol book. I played modern trumpet with Sam Goble, Thomas Hewitt, Jamie Akers, Martin Sanderson, Bill Lyons, and Cameron Drayton, with several of the above doubling on historical instruments. 

Have a wonderful Christmas and all best wishes for 2025.

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Russell Gilmour
Russell Gilmour Blog
writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.

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