Cultural life and traditions in Great Britain

In Great Britain there is probably a greater interest in painting and sculpture today than ever before. Artists are experimenting with colours, shapes and materials of all kinds. They hold exhi­bitions on street pavements, in parks, in empty buildings, as well as in schools, universities and art clubs. If they are lucky, their works are chosen for exhibition by the Institute of Contemporary Art, which was founded to help young artists. Much of their work is connected with the objects and experiences of everyday life. A few young painters and artists are successful and have their works accepted by well-known London art galleries.,

The older generation of modern painters arid sculptors, such as the artists John Piper and Gra­ham Sutherl or the sculptor Henry Moore, now have an international reputation.

An interest in crafts has grown again. More and more young people are learning them in schools, colleges and evening classes. Pottery, wood-carving, furniture-making, hand-woven and hand printed cloth, handmade jewellery and metal work are the most popular.

British musical traditions

In the 16th-17th centuries English musicians had a great reputation in Europe, both for their talent and their originality. Today there is a revival of interest to these neglected composers, for instance to the music of William Byrd, one of the most distinguished musicians of that time.

In the centuries that followed, Britain produced no composers of world rank, except for Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934). Today, however, many people believe that there has been a reflowering of English music, and that the compositions of some contemporary musicians will live on after their deaths. The music of Michael Tippett, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) and William Walton (1902 - 1983) is performed all over the world.

Benjamin Britten (the most well-known of the three) was not modern in the musical sense of the word, but he was modern in his attitude towards his public. He has been called a «people's composer» because he composed music, particularly operas and choral works, that can be sung by ordinary people. Some of his operas, such as «Noyes Fludde» (Noah's Flood») are performed in churches every year and people from the neighbourhood sing and act in them. The festival which he started in his little home town of Alderburgh in Suffolk has become one of the most important music festivals in Britain.

The most classless art form, rock and pop music, is listened to by «princes and by paupers». It also crossed national barriers as easily as class barriers. Every year about 40 % of the best-selling CDs in Europe are British, and about 10% are number one in America. The people who put Britain at the forefront of the pop revolution of the 1960s were the Beatles. Before them, British pop music based on rock'n'roll was exported from the USA by singers like Elvis Presley.

The Liverpool, or the Merseyside «beat» was born in the north-west corner of the industrial Black Country and conquered the whole world. And though the Beatles partnership broke, up in the 70s because of the clash of talents and interests, and one of them, John Lennon, was murdered in 1980, the influence of this famous group has continued and can be felt in present day rhythms.

Many modern British singers and musicians have been popular not just for the music and the words of their songs but also because of the ideas and attitudes behind them. Singers like Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Elton John and Boy George have challenged previous standards of «good and normal behaviour», taste and sexual definition.