The Mellstock Band is a British folk group formed in 1986 to perform music associated with Thomas Hardy’s Wessex on authentic instruments. The name Mellstock comes from Hardy’s fictional name for his home parish of Stinsford in Dorset. The group’s debut album, Under the Greenwood Tree, is regarded as a landmark recording.

Hardy’s detailed descriptions of song and dance, together with music from his family’s collection of manuscript books, remain the band’s main source of inspiration. Over time, the repertoire broadens to include west gallery music and village band music, interpreted from manuscript books by village musicians and from the singing and instrumental traditions of rural England.

In performance, the band uses period costume and spoken word alongside the music. It gains wider attention through an appearance in the BBC television production of Pride and Prejudice. The group also performs for BBC television and radio programmes, at festivals, and in productions at the National Theatre and the Chichester Festival Theatre. Its work takes it across Europe, Africa and the USA, including tours for the British Council.

Members

Charles Spicer plays oboes, vox humana, flute and voice. Tim Hill plays early clarinets, flute and voice. Philip Humphries plays serpent, trombone and voice. Dave Townsend is the director and plays concertina, violin and voice.

Recordings

The band’s recordings include The Dance at the Phoenix Hey, For Christmas Songs of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing, The Leaves of Life, Ghosts & Lovers, and Glad Tidings - A West Gallery Christmas.