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As ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3 celebrates British music throughout June, Tom Service travels to Cornwall to discover the music making of Britain's most south-western county.ÌýAfter being seen off with words of advice from Radio 3’s very own Cornwellian - Petroc Trelawny, Tom arrives in Padstow and meets Dr. Folk aka Merv Davey who fills him in on the origins and historical significance of Celtic and folk music in Cornwall and its place in Cornish identity.

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This coming Friday - the 28th June, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Cornish composer George Lloyd (pictured above) and to mark the occasion Tom visits his birthplace, St Ives.Ìý At the house where Lloyd was born Tom talks to Janet Axten who is the Heritage Manager of the St. Ives Archive and Phillip Hunt who knew George Lloyd through their brass band connections. Tom also speaks to the composer’s nephew William Lloyd. Speaking to these people it becomes evident how much of Lloyd’s music was directly influenced by the Cornish countryside.

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At St Endellion, the home of the Easter and Summer Music Festivals, the author (and keen amateur musician) Patrick Gale discusses how the tiny hamlet attracts some of the country's finest musicians. Tom also stops off at Tintagel CastleÌýto take in the inspiration for Arnold Bax’s celebrated tone poem.

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At his home in Treen the composer Graham Fitkin, who celebrated his 50th birthday this year, talks about the stark contrasts of the landscape and how his running and swimming help his compositional process.Ìý

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Tom’s final stage on this whistle-stop tour is the north coast seaside resort of Perranporth whereÌýmembers of the Cornish folk band Dalla prove that Cornish folk music is alive and well.

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For more photos see the gallery on the right hand side of the page.

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