麻豆社

John Dawson鈥檚 family have farmed sheep and cattle at Bleak Bank Farm in the Yorkshire Dales for more than a hundred years. They鈥檙e at the heart of a very strong farming culture that spreads right across the Dales and when a local choir wanted to commission a new piece of music to mark their 40th anniversary, they decided it was a no-brainer that it should be about the area鈥檚 farming heritage and, just as important, future.

Caz Graham visits John鈥檚 upland farm, below Ingleborough, one of Yorkshire鈥檚 three peaks, to hear the story behind A Shepherd鈥檚 Year, a new three-part choral work celebrating sheep farming in the Dales.

They鈥檙e joined by Margaret Coleman from Langcliffe Singers who commissioned the piece and recently performed it to a packed house accompanied by Settle Orchestra, and composer Vahan Salorian who grew up in the Dales before moving to London and pursuing a successful career composing opera, operetta and orchestral pieces. As research for the music, he visited the autumn sheep sales at Skipton Auction mart, chatted with John and his farming friends at Bleak Bank Farm and picked the brains of local school children.

The result is a joyous and moving piece of music that鈥檚 galvanised a community and leaves a permanent legacy to this rich farming culture.

Produced and presented by Caz Graham.

Concert recording by Janine Bebbington, Gorgeous Media