Commissions
In 1873 the Festival commissioned Arthur Sullivan who composed his oratorio The Light of the World.
The 1879 Festival commissioned a work from Max Bruch, Das Lied von der Glocke.
In 1882 Charles Gounod was commissioned and produced Redemption, which was performed twice.
In 1885 Antonín Dvořák provided The Spectre's Bride and Gounod provided Mors et Vita.
In 1891 Dvořák's commission delivered his Requiem for £650.
1900 saw the commission The Dream of Gerontius from Edward Elgar. The chorus master had died suddenly four months before the concert was due, and with ten works in hand and only one copy of the score, rehearsal started only a few days before the performance date. It was not sung well but was strongly applauded and well reviewed as a composition. He returned in 1903 with The Apostles, and 1906 with The Kingdom. His commission for 1912 created The Music Makers, incorporating themes from the Enigma Variations, Gerontius, his violin concerto, and The Apostles. The principal conductor for 1912 was Henry Wood.
Read more about this topic: Birmingham Triennial Music Festival