Settle in for a mesmerizing journey into our collective seasonal soundtrack with conductor, broadcaster, and musicologist, Raymond Holden.

For many of us, the arrival of the holiday season is marked not by the calendar, but by the first notes of a familiar melody drifting through the winter air. Christmas simply would not be Christmas without music.

Attendees: TASH Members & their Guests Only.  Arrive early to enjoy drinks, lunch and great company.

Timings: Morning Lecture & Online @ 10:45 / Afternoon Lecture @ 14:15.

From Roman Chants to the Silver Screen

While we often associate Christmas music with Victorian church organs or Hollywood orchestration, its true history stretches back nearly two millennia. Professor Holden will trace the phenomenon back to its humble fourth-century origins in Rome. Attendees will discover how early Latin liturgical hymns, such as Veni redemptor gentium ("Come, Redeemer of the Nations") composed by Saint Ambrose, laid the structural and emotional foundations for centuries of worship.

The lecture will explore how these strictly sacred roots transformed over the generations, evolving from medieval communal folk carols into the commercial printing boom of the 19th century - a movement that firmly established pieces like Hark! The Herald Angels Sing into the public consciousness. Moving into the modern era, Professor Holden will examine how Christmas music successfully migrated from the church liturgy to the cinema, becoming an essential tool for triggering nostalgia and wonderment on the big screen.

About our Speaker: An Illustrious Guide

To guide us through this intricate cultural tapestry, we welcome one of the most distinguished figures in British music education. Professor Raymond Holden AM is Emeritus Professor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Born in Australia, his formidable career spans the globe as a multi-award-winning writer, lecturer, and conductor who has led world-class ensembles, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the London New Symphony Orchestra. His authoritative musical research has been published by Oxford, Cambridge, and Yale University Presses. 
A familiar voice and face across international airwaves, Professor Holden frequently appears on BBC Television and Radio, lending his characteristic warmth, deep erudition, and engaging storytelling style to complex musical histories.

A Multimedia Experience

True to the high standards praised by sister Arts Societies across the UK, Professor Holden does not merely talk about music - he brings it to life. This presentation is a richly illustrated, immersive multimedia experience featuring carefully curated high-quality sound recordings and evocative film clips. The combination ensures a lecture that is as visually and acoustically uplifting as it is intellectually stimulating.

Whether you are fascinated by early music, a devotee of classic cinema scores, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the spirit of the season, this lecture promises to be a transformative highlight of our winter programme.