WELL known local composer Chris Gibbs will have his Forest of Bowland Suite for String Quartet performed on Sunday, June 18 (2pm) at the church in the village of Downham in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which lies at the foot of Pendle Hill, close to the thriving market town of Clitheroe.

Borne out of his many visits to the area walking through its landscape and villages, the gifted Grange-over-Sands based composer captured the spirit of Bowland, beautifully.

The pastoral piece - first aired at the acclaimed Lakeland Composers concert at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre in 1998 - will be played alongside another of Chris' compositions, his Music for String Quartet Suite.

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Lead violinist for the Forest of Bowland Suite will be local composer and esteemed Westmorland Youth Orchestra conductor, Roland Fudge, who will also perform a piece of his own with his Stonebridge Quartet.

Meanwhile, William Bowland, 16th Lord of Bowland, had commissioned Chris to write a special choral work featuring the carnyx which will receive its world premiere at Slaidburn Village Hall on Thursday, June 15 (7.30pm), during the Music of the Forest concert.

Chris says William first became aware of his music (Forest of Bowland Suite) through the web and consequently was invited by him to give the annual Lord of Bowland Lecture in 2015, at Browsholme Hall, near Clitheroe. This was an illustrated talk (with music).

"This was a great success with an audience of around 60," adds Chris. "William then asked me if I took commissions."

Chris accepted and as a result composed Music of the Forest - Songs of Bowland, a four-part song cycle which evokes the landscape and history of the Forest of Bowland and will be performed by the Renaissance Singers of Blackburn Cathedral under Samuel Hudson’s baton.

Chris says each one is a setting of verses by William: Anthem to the Lord Kings of Bowland celebrates the monarchs who were also Lords of Bowland during the late medieval and early modern period; Bowland Sun is a personal piece that intimates a desire for William's son and heir Henry to share his deep attachment to the forest and In Agmundr's Land refers to the Viking warlord who ruled the area in the 10th Century.

The fourth piece is Sons of Setanta, which stretches back in time to when Bowland had fallen under the rule of Setanta.

Internationally acclaimed trombonist and experimental musician, John Kenny, will play the carnyx, an ancient Celtic war horn, which promises to create a dramatic climax to the cycle.

"The poems are largely about different aspects of the history and scenery of Bowland, and it was a pleasure to be asked to set them," explains Chris. "The second one is a song for Henry of Bowland, William’s young son (only two at the time). He will be there at the concert and I have been asked to make a presentation of the score to him and his father.

"Henry’s song and the opening anthem come twice in slightly differing versions, making a total of six items."

Chris was born 1938 and has been composing since he was seven. He studied at Trinity College of Music under Gladys Puttick and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Carey Blyton. Now retired, he taught music for many years, including lecturing at the University of Birmingham.

Later in the year, Chris and the highly regarded Lakeland Composers return collectively to the musical spotlight for a choral and instrumental concert at St Martin’s Chapel on the University of Cumbria Campus in Lancaster on Friday, November 3, under the aegis of Lancaster Music Makers.

"There’ll be lots of exciting new pieces from our very varied group, and I’ve written another shorter choral piece for the occasion, Day Awakes."

Tickets for the June 15 Slaidburn performance are available from the AONB office on 01200-448000 or email sandra.silk@lancashire.gov.uk.

The Downham concert is part of the Ribble Valley Music Festival. For tickets and further information telephone Clive Greenwood on 01254-384893 or email info@ribblevalleymusic.co.uk.