About Us
The Edward German Festival celebrates a composer born in Whitchurch in 1862, whose theatre music is still worth hearing closely.
Our history
Sir Edward German (1862-1936) is today remembered primarily as a composer for the theatre. Trained as a violinist and organist, he went on to write incidental music for Shakespeare productions and a run of popular stage works, among them Merrie England and Tom Jones.
The festival was set up to restore attention to the full range of his output, from light operetta to the orchestral dances and songs that show a more personal voice.
Key dates
A short sequence of moments that shaped the composer's reputation and the work of the festival.
1862
Birth in Whitchurch
Edward German is born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, where his early musical training begins.
1902
Merrie England
The operetta Merrie England opens and becomes one of his best-known stage works.
1936
Death of the composer
Edward German dies, leaving a large body of theatre, orchestral and choral music.
Mission and values
The festival works on three principles that guide every programme and publication.
- Accuracy: performances and notes are checked against the original scores and sources.
- Access: concerts are priced and placed so that local listeners can attend.
- Context: each event explains how the music was made for its theatre or occasion.
Team overview
A small group of administrators, musicians and volunteers organises each year's events. Their work is shown here.
Members of the team can be contacted through the festival office, and the full roster of people is listed on our team page.
Our approach to research
Much of the composer's music survives in manuscript and in early printed editions. The festival compares these sources before any score is performed or recorded.