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All the King's Music

Tom Service assesses the history of the post of master of the king's (or queen's) music.

Tom Service assesses the history of the masters of the king's (or queen's) music - a pantheon of 21 names, some brilliant, some average, some really rather forgettable. What have the incumbents done with their time in the post, and how has the role changed in recent years? And how do they compare with their equivalents in literature, the poets laureate?
With literary historian Oliver Tearle.

Available now

29 minutes

Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Pomp and circumstance marches Op.39 - no.2 in A minor

    Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • SONY.
    • SB2K63247.
  • Arthur Bliss

    Welcome the Queen - march Op.78

    Conductor: Arthur Bliss. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • DECCA ELOQUENCE.
    • 480 6025.
  • Arnold Bax

    Coronation march

    Conductor: Malcolm Sargent. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • DECCA.
    • 00028947308027.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    An Orkney wedding, with sunrise for orchestra and bagpipes

    Conductor: Ben Gernon. Performer: Robert Jordan. Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
    • Linn.
    • CKD534.
  • Malcolm Williamson

    A Procession of palms for choir and organ

    Conductor: Alan Williams. Performer: Mastersingers.
    • CARLTON CLASSICS.
    • DHX0914.
  • Judith Weir

    I love all beauteous things for chorus

    Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. Performer: Richard Pearce. Performer: ±«Óătv Singers.
  • Nicholas Lanier

    NICHOLAS LANIER: The House Measure

    Performer: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.
    • NIMBUS.
    • NI 5546.
  • Arthur Bliss

    Eight Fanfares: III. Fanfare for the Princess Anne

    Performer: Onyx Brass.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 1030186.
  • Anthony Holborne

    Jast, or Clerke's galliard HPM.1.31 for viols

    Performer: David Miller.
    • CHANDOS.
    • CHAN0682.
  • Nicholas Lanier

    Sweet Do Not Thus Destroy Me

    Performer: English Ayres.
    • MP3.
    • Download Only.
  • Louis Grabu

    Albion and Albanius [1685]: O Jealousy!

    Performer: Bertrand Cuiller. Performer: Le Caravansérail. Performer: Rachel Redmond.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 2296DI.
  • John Eccles

    The Judgment of Paris, or The prize of music - Symphony for Mercury

    Conductor: Christian Curnyn. Performer: David Hendry. Performer: Early Opera Company.
    • CHANDOS.
    • CHAN-0759.
  • Maurice Greene

    Lord, let me know mine end for 2 trebles, chorus and organ

    Conductor: Edward Higginbottom. Performer: New College Oxford Choir.
    • CRD Records.
    • CRD3484.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Zadok the priest - coronation anthem no. 1 HWV.258

    Performer: Hervé Niquet. Performer: Le Concert Spirituel.
    • ALPHA.
    • ALPHA868.
  • John Stanley

    Voluntary in C major for trumpet and organ, arr. Steele-Perkins & Cleobury

    Performer: Anthony Newman. Performer: Wynton Marsalis. Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.
    • SONY.
    • SK66244.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness, arr. T Walker for guitar

    Performer: Graham Anthony Devine.
    • NAXOS.
    • 8.557040.
  • William Shield

    Rosina - Act 2 "Light as thistledown"

    Conductor: Granville Jones. Performer: Joan Sutherland. Performer: Philomusica of London.
    • DECCA.
    • 4783243.
  • Prince Albert

    Melody in F major for violin and piano

    Performer: Iona Brown. Performer: Jennifer Partridge.
    • Decca Eloquence.
    • 4802091.
  • Edward Elgar

    Imperial march Op.32 for orchestra

    Conductor: Adrian Boult. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • EMI.
    • 563164.
  • William Walton

    Crown imperial - coronation march for orchestra

    Conductor: Sir Charles Groves. Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • EMI.
    • 5672222.
  • Arthur Bliss

    Eight Fanfares: III. Fanfare for the Princess Anne

    Performer: Onyx Brass.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 1030186.
  • Arthur Bliss

    Welcome the Queen - march Op.78

    Conductor: Arthur Bliss. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • DECCA ELOQUENCE.
    • 480 6025.
  • John Tavener

    Song for Athene for chorus

    Conductor: Martin Neary. Performer: Choir of Westminster Abbey.
    • SONY.
    • SK66613.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Fantasia on a ground and 2 pavans for ensemble [after Purcell's Fantazia Z.731 & Pavans Z.748 & 750]

    Conductor: Peter Maxwell Davies. Performer: The Fires of London.
    • UNICORN.
    • KANCHANA-UKCD 2044.
  • Judith Weir

    I love all beauteous things for chorus

    Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. Performer: Richard Pearce. Performer: ±«Óătv Singers.
  • Nicholas Lanier

    NICHOLAS LANIER: The House Measure

    Performer: Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.
    • NIMBUS.
    • NI 5546.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 May 2023 17:00
  • Fri 12 May 2023 16:30
  • Sun 20 Aug 2023 17:00
  • Fri 25 Aug 2023 16:30

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