SimonBDC
simonbdc.bsky.social
SimonBDC
@simonbdc.bsky.social
Three Choirs Festival volunteer archivist and historian. 'Three Choirs Festival in 10 Concerts' (Logaston) Gloucester Cathedral Volunteer and Friend. Hampshire Cricket fan.
Lovely Autumn colours in a Gloucester field
October 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A stonking @threechoirs.bsky.social concert from the 1880s
September 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by SimonBDC
FUNDRAISER | On 31 August, Allen Prior, Gloucester City Chair will be undertaking a 20 mile walk from Berkeley to Gloucester Cathedral in memory of Peter Hillier. 👣

Read more, and support Allen's walk: 3choirs.org/gloucester-2...
Peter Hillier Memorial Walk | Three Choirs Festival
On 7 August 2004 I was in my place on the Chorus staging for the Opening Service of my very first Three Choirs Festival as a member of the Festival Chor
3choirs.org
August 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Just finishing off the first draft of my attempt to chart the emergence and early days of @gloucestercathedral.org.uk choir. Few facts, lot of (intelligent) speculation I'm afraid!
August 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The number of #premieres that have featured @threechoirs.bsky.social since the start of the Festival in the early 18th century now numbers 619
August 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
In case you missed it, we've released our Gloucester 2026 preview! Find out what's in store in next year's programme!
👉 3choirs.org/gloucester-2...
Gloucester 2026 | Three Choirs Festival
Learn more about the Gloucester 2026 festival here! See what's on, who's performing and how to get involved!
3choirs.org
August 8, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Three vintage @threechoirs.bsky.social postcards
July 8, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
"Vaughan Williams, the quintessential British composer."

A great introduction to the life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams, compiled by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Find it here: www.lso.co.uk/what-you-sho...
July 8, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Just about as proud of getting this reference into Jeremy Pound's excellent article on castrati in July's BBC Music Magazine as anything I've ever done for @threechoirs.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
Orchestral Works: Grace Williams — John Andrews, BBC Philharmonic

“thrilling and… the word that keeps coming to mind is meaty! Anyway, sink your teeth into Williams’s fearless wind writing and clear affection for celesta.”
Our Top Classical Albums of 2024
It's been a terrific year for classical music. From passionate piano solos to lush orchestral works and beyond, here are our favorite classical recordings released in 2024!
www.classicalwcrb.org
June 7, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
We love the idea of RVW's favourite pencils being "the things that turn into music" ✏️
June 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by SimonBDC
This Friday at 12.15, we're going to be on
BBC's Bargain Hunt! Join Caroline Hawley as she
visits Hereford Cathedral as it prepares for this year's Three
Choirs Festival. 🎼

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC One - Bargain Hunt, Series 71, Leominster 26
Caroline visits Hereford Cathedral as it prepares to host the Three Choirs Festival.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 3, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
also helps the DoM realise that you *know* you made a stupid mistake...
June 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by SimonBDC
The principal aims of the Vaughan Williams Foundation are to honour RVW’s desire to support his fellow composers and to make his own work widely accessible to the general public.

VWF general funding applications open today!

💻 Details via our website - link in bio
June 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
@tracyborman.bsky.social Am currently researching the Royal Progress of 1535 from the angle of their visit Gloucester Abbey. Would there have been any singers and/or musicians in the party?
June 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by SimonBDC
📣 On sale now: Three Choirs Festival 2025! 🎶🎉
We return to our residency at the Three Choirs Festival @threechoirs.bsky.social, taking place this year in the glorious settings of Hereford. Tickets are on sale now. Find out more and book tickets: philharmonia.co.uk/seasons/thre...
April 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Great to hear again @drjaninaramirez.bsky.social enthusiasm for all things #gloucester #history this morning at the fabulous Gloucester History Festival
April 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Just arrived via ILL. Hoping to learn more of the context of what was going on @gloucestercathedral.org.uk just before the Dissolution
April 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by SimonBDC
#FirstPerson - @stjohnscollege.bsky.social College choral conductor #ChristopherGray on recording 'Lament & Liberation', a showcase for contemporary choral works appropriate to this time www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...
First Person: St John's College choral conductor Christopher Gray on recording 'Lament & Liberation'
When I arrived at St John’s College, Cambridge, in April 2023, it was a daunting prospect to be taking over the reins of a choir with such a distinguished recording heritage: there have been more than...
www.theartsdesk.com
April 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
*Available to pre-order!*

"Someone Else's Music: Opera and the British" traces attitudes towards opera, 1920-2020.

It reveals a forgotten history of popular opera-going, which challenges the elitism stereotype. It also examines when and why that stereotype arose.

global.oup.com/academic/pro...
April 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Handel's 'Alexander's Feast' which is featuring in this year's @threechoirs.bsky.social made its first Festival appearance in 1739 (Gloucester), just three years after it had been composed.
April 19, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
A thread to celebrate Arnold Bax through recordings of his works. I am re-listening to all 61 hours and 16 minutes of Bax in my collection and will set out my thoughts here, in a series of themed threads.
February 18, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
Booking is now open for Hereford 2025! Experience powerful music, timeless venues and inspiring events at this year's Three Choirs Festival! 🔥🎶

🎟 3choirs.org/whats-on
April 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by SimonBDC
Enjoy Vaughan Williams’ ‘Let Beauty Awake’ performed by newly formed musical collaboration Duo Atlantis - mezzo-soprano Rachel Payne and pianist Jack Tyndale-Biscoe.

Watch and listen here 👇
Vaughan Williams - Let Beauty Awake - Performed by Duo Atlantis (Rachel Payne & Jack Tyndale-Biscoe)
Enjoy the incredible 'Let Beauty Awake' from 'Songs of Travel' by Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the greatest English composers of the 20th century. This stu...
www.youtube.com
April 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The 1895 @threechoirs.bsky.social line up ...
April 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM