Highgrove House honoured with music and documentary

Prince Charles gives a tour of Highgrove for the BBC2 documentary

Prince Charles' home in Gloucestershire has been honoured with a special musical commission to coincide with a BBC Two documentary.

Highgrove House, particularly the gardens, is the inspiration behind the four-movement suite of songs commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales himself.

Excerpts of music were heard during a television documentary in September, 2010, which was presented by Alan Titchmarsh.

The four movements of the Highgrove Suite - Goddess of the Woods, The Wildflower Meadow, Sanctuary and The Gladiator - have been composed by Patrick Hawes and inspired by the gardens at Highgrove.

"Throughout the journey of conceiving and then writing the Highgrove Suite, I have been thrilled and honoured to visit the Gloucestershire home of the Prince of Wales on numerous occasions, including for an interview with Alan Titchmarsh for the upcoming BBC documentary, and I have been profoundly struck by the deep-rooted principles and sensitivity of our future King," said Patrick.

"It is clear that His Royal Highness has genuine passion for the arts in general - particularly music - and that he excels as a gardener, always showing respect for nature and the environment.

Highgrove House was acquired by The Duchy of Cornwall in 1980

"Approachable, emotive classical music does not have to be a thing of the past and in England we have so much to celebrate through such music.

"One of the main benefits of the Highgrove Suite is that it has the potential to reach a wide and varied audience, and really offer those who may not ordinarily look in this direction the chance to explore something different."

Highgrove House was acquired in 1980 by The Duchy of Cornwall from the MP Maurice Macmillan.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana took up residence soon after they were married and it became the first home for their young sons Princes William and Harry.

Highgrove: Alan meets Prince Charles was broadcast on BBC2 on 23rd September, 2010, and the Highgrove Suite was released on CD in September, 2010.