A portrait of Christmas Revels founder John Langstaff reveals influences that shaped the creation of his popular annual celebration, from his mischievous choirboy experiences and early career as a recital singer to his World War II injury and subsequent work as a recording artist, television performer, teacher and childrens author. By the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Grey King. Simultaneous. A portrait of Christmas Revels founder John Langstaff reveals the influences that shaped the creation of his popular annual celebration, including his early career as a recital singer and subsequent work as a recording artist, television performer, teacher, and childrens author. On Christmas Eve, 1920, John Meredith Langstaff was born into a music-filled home where a rousing carol party was the peak of his family&;s year. Half a century later, his inspired Christmas Revels was born, a theatrical weaving of diverse traditional song, folk dance, and drama that has become a beloved institution across the country. Now award-winning author Susan Cooper, a longtime writer for the Revels, traces its roots through the rhythms of Jack Langstaff&;s life&;from his days as a star choirboy to his early career as a noted recital singer; from a daunting World War II injury to his work as recording artist, TV performer, teacher, and children&;s author. Along the way, his passion for music, ritual, and community fused to spark the incomparable Revels, a participatory celebration that promises to draw children of all ages for even more generations to come.
