Britain has made a massive contribution to the world of music, art, and theatre. From classical composers to the Beatles, from Turner's paintings to the West End stage, British culture has had a global impact. The test covers the highlights.
Key facts
- Henry Purcell, George Frideric Handel (German-born, lived in Britain), Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, and Benjamin Britten are notable composers associated with Britain.
- Handel composed the Messiah and the Music for the Royal Fireworks.
- The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and other bands led the 'British Invasion' of popular music in the 1960s.
- The Proms (BBC Proms) is an annual series of classical music concerts held at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Important British artists include Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, J.M.W. Turner, John Lavery, Henry Moore, David Hockney, and Lucian Freud.
- The Turner Prize is an annual award for contemporary visual art, named after J.M.W. Turner.
- London's West End is one of the world's great centres for theatre, alongside Broadway in New York.
- The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world.
In depth
Britain's musical heritage spans centuries. In the classical tradition, composers like Henry Purcell, Handel (who became a British citizen), Edward Elgar, and Benjamin Britten created works that are still performed worldwide. The Proms, or BBC Proms, is an annual season of classical concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London, culminating in the famous Last Night of the Proms. In popular music, Britain has been enormously influential. The Beatles, from Liverpool, became the most successful band in history and led the British Invasion of the 1960s alongside groups like the Rolling Stones.
In the visual arts, Britain has produced world-renowned painters. Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable captured the English countryside. J.M.W. Turner, known for his dramatic landscapes and seascapes, is so celebrated that the Turner Prize - Britain's most prestigious contemporary art award - is named after him. Henry Moore is famous for his large-scale sculptures, and David Hockney is one of the most influential living artists. Theatre is another great British tradition. London's West End is a global centre for live performance, while the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held every August, is the largest arts festival in the world.
Focus on famous names and institutions: composers such as Henry Purcell and Edward Elgar, artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, J.M.W. Turner and Henry Moore, and events such as the Proms. Britain's pop heritage includes The Beatles. The test may ask you to match a person to their art form.