The musical program of the London 2012 Olympics comes with bells on

The esoteric art of bell-ringing is about to get its biggest showcase in history as part of the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Before the Ceremony kicks off at 9pm on July 27, church bells will be rung across London in a three-minute chorus in anticipation of what is to come later that night, when the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world will officially mark the opening of the games.

The official organisers of cultural events across London, the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, have not skimped on musical programming, with over 16 million people across the UK participating in performances. One project will see 20 new sporting-themed compositional commissions, produced by PRS for Music Foundation, played throughout the country. Joe Cutler’s table-tennis inspired composition, Ping!, was specially scored for the Coull String Quartet.

As for the Opening Ceremony itself, traditional English hymns and classical hits combine with some very eclectic musical tastes to create a multi-genre embracing occasion. 
In terms of fine English music, the leaked line-up is set to include Handel’s Queen of Sheba and the Fireworks suite, while Elgar – who was sure to appear...