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To mark the 70th anniversary of the death of their famous son, the town is holding a weeklong festival to celebrate Sir Edward German, his life and his music – music that is second only to Elgar in epitomising its Englishness.

The full and interesting programme (see below) glitters with performances by well-known artists such as Julian Lloyd Webber, the Hallé Orchestra, from Manchester, the Band of the Welsh Guards, and Chorus Amici, who were the BBC Choir of Year in 2000.

But the festival is not just about celebrities. In recognition of its aim to bring local talent alongside world-class musicians, groups and schools from the town will also be performing, and there will also be talks and exhibitions honouring German’s work.

The festival - which has taken three years of planning and organisation - is the brainchild of a Whitchurch family of music lovers, Dr John and Judith Clayton.

“We have had tremendous support from local groups such as the Millichope Foundation and Owen Family Trust,” says Judith, “as well as the Arts Council, Local Heritage Initiative and all the local councils.”

For those who did not know - and you can put me on the list – ‘Edward German Jones’ was born in Whitchurch on 17th February 1862. His father was a liquor merchant and organist at the congregational chapel.

When Edward was young he played the violin in the town orchestra and performed comic songs in the village hall. It was Walter Hay, from Shrewsbury, conductor of the town’s choral society, who then encouraged Edward to go and study at the Royal Academy (where he dropped the name Jones to prevent confusion with others), after which he worked as a violinist before getting the job of musical director at the Globe Theatre.

But German had set his heart on composing. As well as symphonies and orchestral suites he also wrote - as was then the fashion - music to accompany lavish productions of plays such as Henry VIII (which will be played by Hallé Orchestra on 28th April) and Nell Gwynne (Welsh Guards on 27th April), and poetry for works such as Kipling’s Just So Stories (sung by local primary schools on 27th and 28th April).

Keen to pursue his ambitions, German offered to compose an opera for Richard D'Oyly Carte, whose company produced the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Initially his offer came to nothing, but it was not totally in vain for when Arthur Sullivan died in 1900 German, who had virtually no experience in opera or choral music, was asked to complete Sullivan’s half-finished score for The Emerald Isle.

The work was of sufficient success for German to then be engaged to compose several new works. This resulted in light operas such as Tom Jones and Merrie England - which was composed while he was in Shropshire (and will be performed on 23rd and 24th April), and what is probably his most famous work, the orchestral piece Welsh Rhapsody (Welsh Guards, 27th April).

Critiques describe German’s work as light and graceful rather than having any depth to it, but it was highly regarded in its day and the man from Whitchurch was knighted in 1928. In later years he composed little– spending time instead with his friends and watching cricket – and after he died in London in 1936 his ashes were returned to Whitchurch.

When he was alive German was as popular as Elgar – indeed, the two were good friends – but since German’s death his reputation has faded. The festival, that the Claytons hope will turn into a biannual event, will seek to redress the balance. It’s also a great way to celebrate St George’s Day in 2006.


 

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