A musical tour of Britain

What are the musical centers of Britain? What British musicians do you know? What British music do you like? Have you ever heard about any of the famous British festivals? What are they?

The British anthem God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen – Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen.

The Beatles  “Love Me Do“ entered the British Top Thirty. It was a song of an unknown group from Liverpool. It was the first of a number of big hits that would make the group world famous.  On Wednesday 24 th October 1962,  The Beatles is one of Britain’s most influential pop groups, first performing in 1959 in Liverpool. The group influenced :Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. At first, the group performed music that that was influenced by American roc’n’roll. However, their experimental songs, imaginative lyrics and catchy melodies soon became very popular. Their records were consistently top of the pop music charts in the 60s. The Beatles split up in 1970.

Music and musicians  Benjamin Britten(1913 – 1976) began writing music as a child, later in life he wrote a great deal of music for young people. He was a master of vocal music of all kinds. Britten started the Aldeburgh Festival  photo

Music and musicians  William Gilbert (1836 – 1911) – an English poet, professional producer.  Arthur Sullivan (1842 – 1900) – an English composer, conductor and organist; his most famous operas «Storm»(1862), «Golden legend»(1886).  Henry Wood(1869 – 1944) – an English conductor who started the yearly Promenade Concerts in London( since 1895).  Henry Purcell ُ s opera «Dido and Aeneas» was the first British classical opera. Several bars from his song «Lilliburlero» are used by the BBC as a signature tune for Overseas Service news.  Andrew Lloyd Webber – a modern English composer, the author of musicals «Cats», «Phantom» and others.

The national musical instrument of Scots  The bagpipe was introduced into Britain by the Romans. Now bagpipes can be seen and heard only in the northern countries of England, in Ireland and in Scotland where it was introduced much later. In Scotland the bagpipe is first recorded in the 16 th century during the reign of James I. For long it has been considered a national Scottish instrument. The sound of the bagpipes is very stirring. The old Highland clans and later the highland regiments used to go into battle to the sound of the bagpipes.  The bagpipe consists of a reed pipe, the chanter(1), and a wind bag which provides a regular supply of air to the pipe. The wind pipe is filled either from the mouth or by a bellows(2) which the player works with his arm. The chanter has a number of holes or keys by means of which the tune is played.  1. верхний голос  1. меха

Musical Instruments

Woodstock Festival