‘Music is a social act of communication – a gesture of friendship.’ Beautiful words from composer Sir Malcolm Arnold who wrote music exactly for that reason. He was loved by his audiences and equally ridiculed by the critics of the day for not following the avant-garde trends. ‘A towering genius’, the BBC called him after his death in 2006. Malcolm always wrote accessible music – it was then and it is now. He was a composer who took on all genres and produced memorable music in all of them. His music for the concert hall includes a cycle of nine symphonies – now considered by many of the highest respected scholars, to be among the most important of the 20th century. His Seventh has been hailed as a highpoint in modern symphonic writing. There are operas, concertos, much instrumental music and of course nearly 140 film scores, including some of the most iconic of the 20th century: Bridge over the River Kwai, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, The Sound Barrier and Whistle Down the Wind.

We are about to celebrate our 10th Malcolm Arnold Festival (October 17/18) at the lovely Royal & Derngate in Northampton. Why Northampton? That’s where Malcolm was born and bred.

Over the years we have had very distinguished celebrities to launch the festival; among them Robert Hardy, John Wallace, Hayley Mills, Dame Monica Mason – all whose lives were enriched by knowing and working with Malcolm. I was delighted when Sir Tim Rice, a great Arnold fan, agreed to launch this year's festival. The launch concert will be magnificent: Malcolm’s Hoffnung Fanfare for 36 trumpets which will be conducted by Ben Hoffnung himself. The Padstow Lifeboat, a real Malcolm favourite, played by the excellent Northampton County Youth Brass Band who will also accompany the massed choirs of Northampton in a performance of Song of Freedom.

We move to nearby St Matthews Church for our afternoon concert. Malcolm played there often and the work he wrote for the legendary Canon Walter Hussey, Psalm 150, forms a central pillar of this concert alongside the wonderful Double Violin Concerto and the rarely performed John Clare Cantata in a new version for choir and strings.

Back to the Derngate for all the remaining concerts all featuring fascinating and imaginative programmes that include the world premiere of Malcolm’s Fantasy for Double Bass and a rare performance of his song cycle Contrasts originally written for Robert Tear.

In the evening we have our first BBC broadcast – the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Martin Yates will play the Philharmonic Concerto, the John Field Fantasy, played by the inimitable Peter Donahoe and that towering Seventh Symphony.

Sunday is our special ‘Gesture of Friendship’ day where we will be inviting musicians globally to play music as a gesture of friendship. To a friend or relative in a formal or informal situation – we would love Sunday to be a day when music rules the world… The superb Northampton County Youth Orchestra will play the Second Symphony, Cornish Dances and ever-popular Tam O’Shanter. Then we have a rare chance to see some of Malcolm’s less known work for the silver screen with BBC Radio’s John Griff hosting.

We’ll hear the Sinfoniettas and a wonderful Brass Ensemble from Scandinavia who will celebrate Malcolm the trumpeter and include the Symphony for Brass.

The Gala Concert – ‘Reaching Around the Globe’ features among much else, the Scottish Dances the Commonwealth Overture the Saxophone Concerto, played by BBC Young Musician Jess Gillam.

Tickets are available from The Royal & Derngate Box office (01604 624811) and you can find out more on our website http://www.malcolmarnoldfestival.com/

For details about the ‘Gesture of Friendship’ day and to get involved visit: www.agestureoffriendship.com