The classical programme in this years festival includes many of the \u2018big names\u2019 of composer – Haydn, Bach, Schubert, Handel and the like. But dotted amongst those names are a handful of composers that don\u2019t have the same profile, but arguably, should. Here\u2019s a brief guide to some of them, plus a playlist of the featured music at the end.<\/p>\n
Sally Beamish (born 1956 – pictured above)<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cI woke to the sound of a door closing softly downstairs. Even now, that sound chills me\u201d.<\/p>\n
When Sally Beamish\u2019s viola was stolen from her house it was of course, hugely distressing. But it also provided the impetus for a new career, spurring her on to become, instead of a performer, a composer. Since that day, she\u2019s gone on to compose a huge range of music including works for theatre, film and TV.<\/p>\n
Hear Sally\u2019s Carnival Samba<\/em> on Friday 25th August as part of the Salieca Trio\u2019s concert. Details<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Alejandro Vi\u00f1ao (born 1951)<\/b><\/p>\n Argentinian-born but London based, Alejandro Vi\u00f1ao is particularly known for his percussion music, and it\u2019s his \u2018Kahn Variations\u2019 that feature in our Festival, written for solo Marimba, possibly his most famous piece, Alejandro has composed music for over 20 films and has also presented for BBC Radio 3.<\/p>\n Hear the Kahn Variations in our late-night concert on Friday 25th August. Details<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Pablo Casals (1876-1973)<\/b><\/p>\n Perhaps better known as a cellist, especially his recordings of the Bach Cello Suites, the Catalan-Puerto Rican Pablo Casals was also a conductor and a composer. Rascal\u2019s performed his Song of the Birds<\/em> at the White House for President John F Kennedy in 1961, and you can hear that performance below, and also live as part of the Festival.<\/p>\n