{"id":965,"date":"2011-04-28T10:49:59","date_gmt":"2011-04-28T14:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicalamerica.com\/mablogs\/?p=965"},"modified":"2011-10-11T00:13:13","modified_gmt":"2011-10-11T04:13:13","slug":"here-comes-the-bride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.musicalamerica.com\/mablogs\/?p=965","title":{"rendered":"Here Comes the Bride"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Keith Clarke
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a fair likelihood that the rest of the world is little interested in Princess Diana’s son William getting hitched to an English lass whose extended family includes a cousin who runs a fish and chip shop. On the other hand, the airport arrivals halls seem to be pretty busy and people have been camping outside Westminster Abbey ready for tomorrow’s nuptials. Suddenly, London is the place to be, so I’m getting out of it. Had I got my act together and let out my apartment before heading out of town tonight it would probably have kept me in turkey dinners for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

While the music business toyed with the great unknown of which stirring tunes would make it on to the order of service, one thing we did know was that the happy couple had shunned the notion of getting a few notes out of the Master of the Queen’s Music. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, for it is he, told today’s Times<\/em>: “I was put on standby, but it seems that Prince William and Kate don’t want me. I’ve had no part in the music at all. But that’s all right. I’m Master of the Queen’s Music, not theirs.”<\/p>\n

Max throws a graceful huff (fairly often), and is quite a magnet for publicity. But the timing of this flap of the wrists was interesting, for no sooner had we digested the Times<\/em> piece than the royals sent us all a press release detailing the music for the wedding. And guess what? It contains a lovely piece by the Master: Veni Creator Spiritus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For many, that might be enough information already. But for those who still harbour memories of the UK as a cosy crumpets-for-tea nation with Big Ben, Tower Bridge, red buses and smiling policemen in silly helmets, here is the full announcement of music for the match of the year:<\/p>\n

Music for the Wedding Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton are pleased to announce the music for their Wedding Service.\u00a0 The music has a largely British theme. The Couple have put considerable thought into selecting the music, and their choices blend traditional music with some newly commissioned pieces.<\/p>\n

Before the Service<\/span><\/p>\n

The music before the Service will begin with a selection of organ pieces: Fantasia in G (Pi\u00e8ce d’orgue \u00e0 5)<\/em> by Johann Sebastian Bach, followed by Veni Creator Spiritus <\/em>by the Master of The Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; Prelude on St. Columba Op. 28 <\/em>by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sonata for Organ Op. 28 (Allegro maestoso and Allegretto) <\/em>by Edward Elgar.<\/p>\n

Following this will be seven orchestral pieces:<\/p>\n

Serenade for Strings in E minor Op. 20 (Allegro piacevole, Larghetto and Allegretto) <\/em>by Edward Elgar<\/p>\n

Courtly Dance V: Galliard <\/em>from Gloriana (Symphonic Suite) Op. 53a no. 7<\/em> by Benjamin Britten<\/p>\n

Fantasia on Greensleeves<\/em> by Ralph Vaughan Williams<\/p>\n

Farewell to Stromness<\/em> by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies<\/p>\n

On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring <\/em>by Frederick Delius<\/p>\n

Touch Her Soft Lips and Part <\/em>from Henry V Suite <\/em>by William Walton<\/p>\n

Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11 <\/em>by Gerald Finzi<\/p>\n

Three of these pieces – Farewell to Stromness, Touch Her Soft Lips and Part <\/em>and Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11<\/em> – <\/strong>were played at the Service of Prayer and Dedication <\/strong>for The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2005. \u00a0The Couple specifically chose these pieces for that reason.\u00a0 The final piece of music before the Service begins continues the broadly British theme: Canzona <\/em>from Organ Sonata in C minor <\/em>by Percy Whitlock. <\/em><\/p>\n

Processional Music <\/span><\/p>\n

The Service will begin with a Fanfare by The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry to mark the arrival of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. \u00a0The Fanfare will be followed by three Processionals. \u00a0For the Procession of The Queen, Prince William and Miss Middleton have chosen March<\/em> from The Birds<\/em> by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry. \u00a0Prelude on Rhosymedre<\/em> by Ralph Vaughan Williams will accompany the Procession of the Clergy, and was chosen for its Welsh echoes.\u00a0 The Couple have selected \u2018I was Glad’, also by Parry, for the Procession of the Bride.<\/p>\n

Hymns<\/span><\/p>\n

Prince William and Miss Middleton have chosen three hymns for the Service: \u2018Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer’, words by William Williams, translated by Peter Williams and others, and music by John Hughes.\u00a0 The second will be \u2018Love Divine All Love Excelling’, words by Charles Wesley and music by William Penfro Rowlands.\u00a0 The third will be \u2018Jerusalem’, by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, words by William Blake. \u00a0All three hymns have been chosen because they are favourites of the Couple.<\/p>\n

The Anthem and Motet<\/span><\/p>\n

The Anthem, \u2018This is the day which the Lord hath made’, has been composed specially for the occasion by John Rutter. \u00a0It was commissioned by Westminster Abbey as a wedding present for Prince William and Miss Middleton and will be performed by both the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal Choir. \u00a0Mr. Rutter is a British composer, conductor, editor and arranger who specialises in choral music.<\/p>\n

The Anthem will be followed by the Motet \u2018Ubi caritas’ by Paul Mealor, a Welsh composer, who is currently Reader in Composition at The University of Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

Mr. Mealor’s composing studio is on the Isle of Anglesey, where Prince William and Miss Middleton live. This version of \u2018Ubi caritas’ was written on Anglesey and premiered at the University of St. Andrews in November 2010.<\/p>\n

The National Anthem will be sung immediately before the Signing of the Registers.<\/p>\n

The Signing of the Registers and the Recessional <\/span><\/p>\n

During the Signing of the Registers, the choirs will sing \u2018Blest pair of Sirens’, words by John Milton from At a Solemn Musick<\/em>, music by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.<\/p>\n

Following the Signing, there will be a Fanfare by the Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.\u00a0 The Fanfare, called Valiant and Brave<\/em>, after the motto of No. 22 Squadron (Search and Rescue Force) was specially composed for this Service by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, Principal Director of Music in the Royal Air Force.<\/p>\n

The Recessional, for the Procession of the Bride and Bridegroom, will be Crown Imperial<\/em> by William Walton.\u00a0 Toccata<\/em> from Symphonie V <\/em> by Charles-Marie Widor and Pomp and Circumstance March no. 5 <\/em>by Edward Elgar <\/em>will follow the Service.<\/p>\n