Peter Warlock was the pseudonym of the composer, critic and writer Philip Heseltine (1894–1930). His interest in music was encouraged during his schooldays at Eton, and a high point of his early life was his introduction to Delius by an uncle who lived near Grez-sur-Loing. He came under the influence also of Bernard van Dieren and in 1920 he edited the musical journal, The Sackbut. He is best known for his songs and for the Capriol suite for strings, the latter based on dances from Arbeau’s Orchésographie. Bethlehem Down is a flowing strophic carol, to be sung unaccompanied. The dynamics reflect the changing moods of the text.

from notes by Wadham Sutton © 1993