Editing Lancashire (section)

====Classical music====
Lancashire had a lively culture of choral and [[classical music]], with very large numbers of local church [[choir]]s from the 17th century,<ref>R. Cowgill and P. Holman, ''Music in the British Provinces, 1690–1914'' (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007), {{ISBN|0-7546-3160-5}}, p. 207</ref> leading to the foundation of local choral societies from the mid-18th century, often particularly focused on performances of the music of [[Handel]] and his contemporaries.<ref>R. Southey, ''Music-Making in North-East England During the Eighteenth Century'' (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, 2006), {{ISBN|0-7546-5097-9}}, pp.&nbsp;131–2</ref> It also played a major part in the development of [[Brass band (British style)|brass band]]s which emerged in the county, particularly in the textile and coalfield areas, in the 19th century.<ref>D. Russell, ''Popular Music in England, 1840–1914: a Social History'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1987), {{ISBN|0-7190-2361-0}}, p. 163</ref> The first open competition for brass bands was held at Manchester in 1853, and continued annually until the 1980s.<ref>A. Baines, ''The Oxford Companion to Musical Instruments'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992), {{ISBN|0-19-311334-1}}, p. 41</ref> 

The vibrant brass band culture of the area made an important contribution to the foundation and staffing of the [[The Hallé|Hallé Orchestra]] from 1857, the oldest extant professional orchestra in the United Kingdom.<ref>D. Russell, ''Popular Music in England, 1840–1914: a Social History'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1987), {{ISBN|0-7190-2361-0}}, p. 230</ref> The same local musical tradition produced eminent figures such as Sir [[William Walton]] (1902–88), son of an Oldham choirmaster and music teacher,<ref>D. Clark and J. Staines, ''Rough Guide to Classical Music'' (Rough Guides, 3rd edn., 2001), {{ISBN|1-85828-721-9}}, p. 568</ref> Sir [[Thomas Beecham]] (1879–1961), born in St. Helens, who began his career by conducting local orchestras<ref>L. Jenkins, ''While Spring and Summer Sang: Thomas Beecham and the Music of Frederick Delius'' (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, 2005), {{ISBN|0-7546-0721-6}}, p. 1</ref> and [[Alan Rawsthorne]] (1905–71) born in Haslingden.<ref>J. McCabe, ''Alan Rawsthorne: Portrait of a Composer'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), {{ISBN|0-19-816693-1}}</ref> The conductor [[David Atherton]], co-founder of the [[London Sinfonietta]], was born in Blackpool in 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thebiography.us/en/atherton-david|title=Biography of David Atherton <small>(1944-VVVV)</small>|work=thebiography.us|access-date=26 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226232715/http://thebiography.us/en/atherton-david|archive-date=26 February 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Lancashire also produced more populist figures, such as early [[musical theatre]] composer [[Leslie Stuart]] (1863–1928), born in Southport, who began his musical career as organist of [[Salford Cathedral]].<ref>A. Lamb, ''Leslie Stuart: Composer of Floradora'' (London: Routledge, 2002), {{ISBN|0-415-93747-7}}</ref>

More recent Lancashire-born composers include [[Hugh Wood]] (1932– Parbold),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/long-bio/hugh-wood|title=Hugh Wood|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113134237/http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/long-bio/hugh-wood|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sir [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] (1934–2016, Salford),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/jun/19/classicalmusicandopera.proms2004|title=Profile: Peter Maxwell Davies|author=Stephen Moss|work=The Guardian|date=19 June 2004|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305010600/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/jun/19/classicalmusicandopera.proms2004|archive-date=5 March 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sir [[Harrison Birtwistle]] (1934–2022, Accrington),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main.asp?composerid=2729&ttype=BIOGRAPHY|title=Harrison Birtwistle|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113132757/http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main.asp?composerid=2729&ttype=BIOGRAPHY|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Gordon Crosse]] (1937–, Bury),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmcrec.co.uk/composer/crosse-gordon|title=Crosse, Gordon – NMC Recordings|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113141511/http://www.nmcrec.co.uk/composer/crosse-gordon|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[John McCabe (composer)|John McCabe]] (1939–2015, Huyton),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnmccabe.com/biography.htm|title=John McCabe – biography|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115113314/http://www.johnmccabe.com/biography.htm|archive-date=15 January 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Roger Smalley]] (1943–2015, Swinton), [[Nigel Osborne]] (1948–, Manchester), [[Steve Martland]] (1954–2013, Liverpool),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schott-music.com/shop/persons/featured/steve-martland/index.html|title=Schott Music – Steve Martland – Profile|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120071913/http://www.schott-music.com/shop/persons/featured/steve-martland/index.html|archive-date=20 November 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Simon Holt]] (1958–, Bolton)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/short-bio/simon-holt|title=Simon Holt|work=musicsalesclassical.com|access-date=8 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206081945/http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/short-bio/Simon-Holt|archive-date=6 February 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [[Philip Cashian]] (1963–, Manchester).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philipcashian.com/biography|title=Philip Cashian – Biography|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113123738/http://www.philipcashian.com/biography|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The [[Royal Manchester College of Music]] was founded in 1893 to provide a northern counterpart to the London musical colleges. It merged with the Northern College of Music (formed in 1920) to form the Royal Northern College of Music in 1972.<ref>M. Kennedy, ''The History of the Royal Manchester College of Music, 1893–1972'' (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1971), {{ISBN|0-7190-0435-7}}</ref>