ABSTRACT
This Introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an overview of developments in the provincial music festival during the course of the long nineteenth century. The year 1784 provided a natural starting date, since that year saw the beginning of the important Handel Commemoration celebrations in London. This event proved something of a watershed in the history of the provincial festival, for although the Commemoration itself was based on pre-existing festival traditions, it also exerted a powerful and ongoing influence on future events countrywide. The year 1914 provided an effective end date, since most of the provincial festivals ceased to function at the start of the First World War and were not revived until several years later. The book discusses some important general themes such as performers and performance practice, finance, programmes and commissioning and orchestral and choral resources.
