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Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of Britain

Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of the British Isles

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Open Country: Midsummer Music in Orkney

Midsummer Music in Orkney

30/06/2016

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, Midsummer Music in Orkney

Helen Mark visits Orkney to hear music and stories from 40 years of St Magnus Festival.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies helped start the St Magnus Festival in Orkney 40 years ago. Helen Mark visits to hear about his legacy and the history of music in the Northern Isles.

Orkney has a great heritage of music so for this weeks Open Country Helen Mark visits the St Magnus International Festival of Music and Arts. Now in its 40th year St Magnus was founded by the late Orkney-based composer, and Master of the Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. This years festival will celebrate his legacy as well as shining a light on new talent from the islands. 

During the summer months Orkney enjoys 'Twilight All Night' due to its latitude, Helen discovers what this means for the people who live there and the festival. She meets local musicians and composers to find out how the unique landscape, history and wildlife of Orkney inspire individual creativity and how music contributes to the community spirit so integral to island life.

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