Purves, Ross;
(2025)
Music for the 170th Anniversary of Bedford Cemetery (Foster Hill Road) June 7-8th 2025.
[Digital scholarly resource].
https://fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk/
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Abstract
This two-page handout, prepared by Ross Purves for the 170th anniversary of Bedford Cemetery (Foster Hill Road), accompanies a recorded audio-visual presentation which explores the lives and musical legacies of several individuals interred there. Central to the programme are hymns from the Home Hymn Book (1885), compiled by Hester Periam Hawkins, which reflect the domestic sacred music traditions of the period and include contributions from Bedford-associated composers such as Robert and Henry Rose, and Hester herself. These hymns were digitally realised using a blend of live vocals and AI-generated choir, aiming to recreate a spirited congregational sound. The musical selections also include a historically-informed performance of Let Us Then Cheerily Wait for the Spring (1855), a Crimean War-era parlour song by Arthur Ransom and George Lindridge, and a 1932 satirical recording by the Western Brothers. A selection of pieces by Philip H. Diemer highlights his role as a composer, educator, and founder of the Bedford School of Music. This anniversary project blends historical research, musical performance and modern technology practice, offering a rich, localised musical tribute to Bedford’s cultural heritage.
| Type: | Digital scholarly resource |
|---|---|
| Title: | Music for the 170th Anniversary of Bedford Cemetery (Foster Hill Road) June 7-8th 2025 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Publisher version: | https://fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk/ |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | Local history, music, Bedford, England, Victorian history, Edwardian history, musical history, taphophilia |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Culture, Communication and Media |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10209497 |
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