Music has many inspirations and starting points, and one of the more obvious influences on a piece is where it originates from (both geographically and culturally). As with most places in the world, Yorkshire has a strong cultural and musical heritage, and Huddersfield in particular (where Yorkshire Youth and Music is based, as of just last year) is a rich source of music, old and new.

Other than the region's folk and Brass Band heritage, through to hcmf//'s annual contemporary music programme, we offer a few Huddersfield highlights of our own for your listening pleasure...

For a hundred years or more, the Huddersfield Choral Society was what marked Huddersfield out as a special place – though that might seem strange to us now. The tradition of amateur choral singing was at its strongest here. Huddersfield Choral Society commissioned Ralph Vaughan Williams (then the UK’s most famous composer) to write a piece to mark it’s 100^th Anniversary in 1936, and first performed on 2 October of that year.

Here’s the first recording, made only a few weeks after – sadly not by Huddersfield Choral, but you get a feel for the sound of the time.

And another which may sound very old now, but in it’s time was a piece of music that cemented Holmfirth in the minds of the entire nation. Yes, we’re talking the theme tune to ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, a show that was the longest running sitcom in the world, and where basically three old men did daft things

It does seem like another world … or maybe just someone else’s world. And, of course, 2023 is Kirklees Year of Music, so what music says ‘Huddersfield’ today?

Colne Valley Hearts | O'Hooley & Tidow (bandcamp.com)

This is not perhaps so much about Kirklees as it’s people – but it is by the wonderful O’Hooley & Tidow, who live in Golcar!

And finally...!

Kirklees Year of Music (#KYOM23) has commissioned a number of local artists to produce musical 'idents' for Kirklees... You can find the full list here. We like "From the Overflowing Well" and "The Cropper Lads Ditty"... Which is YOUR favourite?