Music in Britain

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries English musicians had a great reputation in Europe, both for their talent and for their originality. It was their experiments in keyboard music which helped to form the base from which grew most of the great harpsichord and piano music. William Byrd was the most distinguished English composer of this time, and his name is still widely known.

In the centuries which followed, England produced no composers of the world rank except for Henry Purcell in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and Elgar in the twentieth century. Today, however, many people believe that there has been too much of English music, and that the compositions of some contemporary composers will live on after their deaths. The music of Michael Tippett, Benjamin Britten and William Walton is performed all over the world.

In 1950s, American popular music spread all over the world.

Besides classical music there is pop, folk, rock and all that jazz. Jazz came from America, but today it is international music and British has a small but powerful jazz scene. Jazz can be heard in pubs and clubs all over the country, and the brilliance of the musicianship is more exciting since you can get up close to it. Some great English jazz names are John McCloughlin (guitar), Django Bates (keyboards) and Geoff Simkins (saxophone). The future for jazz looks good as there is a generation of new talents such as some excellent young black players like Courtney Pine and Steve Williamson.

In the 1950s American popular music spread all over the world. Because of the common language, it was more popular in Britain than in other countries. People listened with pleasure to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day; then with shock, horror and delight to Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whatever Americans produced, Britain enjoyed.

Rock’n’roll got very big popularity in Britain and in fact some American rockers had more fans here then at home. There were a great many of groups and vocal singers who imitated American groups and singers, sometimes quite successfully. The Beatles appeared in such a way, but their luck was great, they became very popular all over the world. They were the first British artists to break into the US market. Soon there was international success for the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Queen, the Herman’s Hermits and others.

Words: