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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: The Three Choirs Festival at 300

Composer of the Week: The Three Choirs Festival at 300: Episode 1: A Fortuitous and Friendly Proposal

Episode 1

Episode 1: A Fortuitous and Friendly Proposal

The Three Choirs Festival at 300

A Fortuitous and Friendly Proposal

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, The Three Choirs Festival at 300, A Fortuitous and Friendly Proposal

The history, geography and music that have created the Three Choirs Festival's legacy.

Donald Macleod explores the aspects of history, geography and music that have created the Three Choirs Festival's legacy.

This week the subject of Composer of the Week is not one composer, not even a group of composers, but a remarkable, unique institution lying at the heart of British musical life - a place it has occupied for 300 years.
The Three Choirs Festival, which takes place cyclically in the three cathedral cities of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester, has an astonishing history that has nurtured the careers of many great British composers, including Elgar, Vaughan Williams and SS Wesley.
The 'fortuitous and friendly proposal' emerged from a sermon by Thomas Bisse, Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral, whose proposal that the Cathedral choirs of the three cities should meet each year for musical enjoyment, and to raise alms for the widows and orphans of local clergy. That modest ambition has provided the seed from which one of the world's most historic music festivals has grown.
This week Donald Macleod visits the three cities and talks to some of those who have been involved.

Today Donald meets Anthony Boden, author of a fascinating history of the festival; Dominic Jewel, Chief Executive; and Adrian Partington, Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral. Together they begin to weave together the strands of history, geography, and music that have created a legacy which continues to thrive to the present day.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores the 300-year history of the Three Choirs Festival

Donald Macleod explores the 300-year history of the Three Choirs Festival, which takes place cyclically in the three cathedral cities of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester

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Episode 1: A Fortuitous and Friendly Proposal

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