Ruth Mulligan is a music teacher, piano accompanist and composer based in Cheltenham, England. She plays the viola, performing regularly with the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra and participates in a local choir. She completed her B.Mus (hons) at the University of Wales, Bangor and her PGCE in secondary music at Oxford Brookes University.

Ruth has composed and arranged Christmas choral music for children and adults and has been directing choirs since she was 17. She has written 2 musical nativity plays which have been performed at the school attended by her 6 children, where she has also directed a choir since 2007.

In 2024, she was the musical director for an Easter passion play which was performed in Cheltenham, for which she wrote 10 songs, directed a children’s choir, a community choir for adults, and a community orchestral ensemble. Ruth is passionate about music education and has developed an initiative which allows children to access free instrumental hire and lessons.

Away in a Manger is gentle and simple to invoke the feeling of a lullaby, particularly in the final verse, where the beautiful words invite… comfort and peace. This is reflected in the restrained movement of the accompaniment and the repetition of the final line. The carol begins in unison, or for a solo voice, and divides into two parts for verse 2. The simplicity of the accompaniment in verse 3 evokes the sound of distant bells or chimes gradually falling away to a relaxed and effective conclusion. Percussion instruments such as bells or a glockenspiel could be added and the possibilities are endless. The composers love of Christmas and children are evident in this evocative and effective new setting or traditional words.