Three Choirs Festival facts for kids
The Three Choirs Festival is a special event that celebrates classical music. It happens every year in August. During the festival, choirs from three big churches, called cathedrals, sing in many concerts. These three cathedrals are in Hereford Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral, and Worcester Cathedral. The festival moves between these three cities each year.
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What is the Three Choirs Festival?
The Three Choirs Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in the world. It started a very long time ago, in the 18th century (the 1700s). Imagine, it has been going on for over 300 years!
Where Does it Happen?
The festival takes place in three beautiful English cities. These are Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester. Each year, one of these cities hosts the festival. This means the concerts and events happen in that city's cathedral and other venues.
Who Performs at the Festival?
Many famous musicians have performed at this festival. Great conductors like Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Edward Elgar, and Ralph Vaughan Williams have led the music. Many talented composers have also written new music especially for the festival. Some of these include Frederick Delius, Zoltan Kodaly, Holst, Arthur Sullivan, Herbert Howells, Gerald Finzi, William Walton, Arthur Bliss, and Benjamin Britten. More recent composers like Lennox Berkeley, John McCabe, William Mathias, Paul Patterson, and James MacMillan have also contributed.
Besides the cathedral choirs, there is also a special choir called the Festival Chorus. This choir often sings very big pieces of music with an orchestra. Many other music groups and solo singers from around the world also come to perform.
Images for kids
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Worcester Cathedral
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Hereford Cathedral
