Festivals began with a primarily religious function on the feastdays of the church and employed music widely for processions and celebratory songs. Later, secular feasts included masques and ballets. Music festivals as such began in Europe in the 18th century with the celebration of particular composers, and especially of Handel. These proliferated in the 19th century with that century's emphasis on nationalism. Later festivals have centred on a particular place, from the magic
of Glastonbury to...