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John Langstaff (December 24, 1920-December 13, 2005) was the founder of the Northeast United States tradition of the Christmas Revels, as well as a respected musician and educator. He attended the Curtis Institute of Music as well as Juilliard.

Langstaff's lifelong project, the Christmas Revels, began in 1957 with a show in New York. In 1971 the longest running Revels, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, began. The Revels, an eclectic mix of medieval and modern music and dance (primarily English in basis), involves the audience and the community in a continuation of pagan and older Christian traditions. Revels shows, now spread over the Northeast and the world, draw on local talent. Morris dancing, mummers, bagpipers and large choruses of men, women and children celebrate the turning of the Solstice in a cheerful fashion.

Langstaff was also a dedicated music educator and author of 25 books which have won prestigious awards such as the Caldecott Medal. He hosted the BBC-TV children's program "Making Music" for five years, and produced a series of videos called "Making Music with John Langstaff" for parents and teachers. He also published songbooks, teacher's guides and production guides for Revels.

Langstaff's recording career was varied and long. Beginning with English traditional music in the 1950s, he continued with the founding of Revels Records, recording primarily children's and traditional music.

On May 17, 2006, David Nath's documentary film To Drive The Dark Away, which chronicles Langstaff's life and work with the Christmas Revels, had its world premiere in Arlington, MA.

John Langstaff Obituary. John Langstaff, 84; Founded Modern-Day Christmas Revels Staged in Many Cities. Retrieved on December 16, 2005.

John Langstaff Unofficial Page. John Langstaff 1920-2005. Retrieved on December 18, 2005.

• Revels

• John Langstaff page from Revels Inc. site
• John Langstaff (unofficial site by Sheldon Brown)