Swaledale Festival
Encyclopedia
The Swaledale Festival was founded in 1980 by Trevor and Emma Woolston, not only to celebrate the music already within the Yorkshire Dales
, England
but also to bring internationally renowned musicians and composers into the area, making it - in the words of its founders - “to music what St Ives is to painting”. The Festival attracts over 6,000 visitors a year, and is the principal provider of professional music across the northern Yorkshire Dales.
The main focus of the Swaledale Festival is on small-scale chamber music. In 2006, for example, the complete Shostakovich string quartets were performed, among others. Choral music, folk music, brass bands, rock and jazz also feature, sometimes on their own, sometimes integrated with the classical core. Talks, films, exhibitions, poetry readings, workshops and guided walks complete the line-up.
The Festival takes place over two weeks in May–June each year. The focal point is the village of Reeth
, whose triangular village green hosts a number of events, but most concerts and performances take place in churches, chapels, ‘Literary Institutes’ and village halls scattered around Swaledale
, Arkengarthdale
and Wensleydale
. The largest venue is St Mary's Church in Richmond
, which seats about 400 people; the smallest venues may seat as few as 40.
A key feature of the Swaledale Festival is the commitment to new commissions, which are premiered each year at Festival concerts.. The 2012 Festival runs from 19 May - 3 June 2012.
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
but also to bring internationally renowned musicians and composers into the area, making it - in the words of its founders - “to music what St Ives is to painting”. The Festival attracts over 6,000 visitors a year, and is the principal provider of professional music across the northern Yorkshire Dales.
The main focus of the Swaledale Festival is on small-scale chamber music. In 2006, for example, the complete Shostakovich string quartets were performed, among others. Choral music, folk music, brass bands, rock and jazz also feature, sometimes on their own, sometimes integrated with the classical core. Talks, films, exhibitions, poetry readings, workshops and guided walks complete the line-up.
The Festival takes place over two weeks in May–June each year. The focal point is the village of Reeth
Reeth
Reeth is a village in the Yorkshire Dales within the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England and principal settlement of Swaledale. It is situated at the meeting point of the two most northerly of the Yorkshire Dales: Swaledale and Arkengarthdale....
, whose triangular village green hosts a number of events, but most concerts and performances take place in churches, chapels, ‘Literary Institutes’ and village halls scattered around Swaledale
Swaledale
Swaledale is one of the northernmost dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. It is the dale of the River Swale on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire.-Geographical overview:...
, Arkengarthdale
Arkengarthdale
Arkengarthdale is a dale, or valley, on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire, England. Running roughly northwest–southeast, it is the valley of the Arkle Beck, and is the northernmost of the Yorkshire Dales...
and Wensleydale
Wensleydale
Wensleydale is the valley of the River Ure on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire, England.Wensleydale lies in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – one of only a few valleys in the Dales not currently named after its principal river , but the older name, "Yoredale", can still be seen...
. The largest venue is St Mary's Church in Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
, which seats about 400 people; the smallest venues may seat as few as 40.
A key feature of the Swaledale Festival is the commitment to new commissions, which are premiered each year at Festival concerts.. The 2012 Festival runs from 19 May - 3 June 2012.