Reinventions
Dr David Starkey's exploration of how the monarchy shaped Britain's music concludes in the 19th and 20th centuries, when the crown rediscovered the power of pageantry.
Dr David Starkey's exploration of how the monarchy shaped Britain's music concludes with the 19th and 20th centuries, when the crown rediscovered the power of pageantry and ceremony and when native music experienced a renaissance.
David discovers the royal origins of such classics as Edward Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, Hubert Parry's I Was Glad and William Walton's Crown Imperial, as well as finding out how the 20th century's coronations - culminating in the crowning of Elizabeth II - cemented the repertory of royal classics in the hearts of the British people. He hears music written by Queen Victoria's beloved Albert, Prince Consort, played for him in Buckingham Palace on a lavish golden piano which was bought by Victoria and Albert themselves. There are also specially recorded performances from St Paul's Cathedral Choir and Westminster Abbey and of works by Felix Mendelssohn, Arthur Sullivan, Charles Villiers Stanford and Ralph Vaughan Williams, as well as Hubert Parry's classic Jerusalem.
David uncovers a rarely seen, diamond-encrusted conductor's baton that was a gift from Queen Victoria to her private organist, Sir Walter Parratt. He also recounts the duets sung by Italian opera composer Gioacchino Rossini with George IV in his decadent pleasure palace, the Brighton Pavilion, and visits the Royal College of Music in London and St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, both of which played a crucial role in the revival of British music.
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Clips
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Full Performance: Prince Albert's Der Ungeliebte
Duration: 02:10
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Full Performance: Thanks Be to God
Duration: 02:13
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Full Performance: I Was Glad
Duration: 06:20
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Full Performance: Jerusalem
Duration: 02:32
Music Played
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Gustav Holst
I vow to thee my country
Performer: Choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral. Conductor: Andrew Carwood. -
Gioachino Rossini
The Thieving Magpie
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Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Lebewohl
Performer: Mary Bevan. Performer: David Owen Norris. -
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Der ungeliebte
Performer: Mary Bevan. Performer: David Owen Norris. -
Felix Mendelssohn
Hebrides overture
Performer: Wiener Philharmoniker. Conductor: Christoph von Dohn谩nyi. -
Felix Mendelssohn
Spring song from Song without words
Performer: Mary Bevan. Performer: David Owen Norris. -
Felix Mendelssohn
Elijah - Thanks be to God
Performer: Choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral. Conductor: Andrew Carwood. -
William Croft
Burial Service - I am the resurrection
Performer: The Choir of Christ's College, Cambridge. Conductor: David Rowland. -
Henry Wood
Fantasia on British sea songs - 91热爆 sweet home
Performer: Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor: Paul Daniel. -
Arthur Sullivan
Imperial March
Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Royston Nash. -
Charles Villiers Stanford
Beati Quorum Via
Performer: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas. -
Sir Walter Parratt
The Whirlwind
Performer: Jack. Performer: Richard Pinel. -
Felix Mendelssohn
Hear my prayer
Performer: Jack. Performer: Richard Pinel. -
Arthur Sullivan
O King of Kings
Performer: Choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral. Conductor: Andrew Carwood. -
Sir George Clement Martin
Short Festival Te Deum in A
Performer: The Midlands Chorale. Performer: Robert Williams. -
Orlando Gibbons
Threefold Amen
Performer: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O鈥橠onnell. -
Hubert Parry
I was Glad
Performer: Choir of Westminster Abbey. Conductor: James O鈥橠onnell. -
Edward Elgar
Coronation Ode - Crown the King with life
Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Edward Gardner. -
Edward Elgar
Coronation Ode - Land of Hope and Glory
Performer: Susan Gritton. Performer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Performer: Robert Murray. Performer: Gerald Finley. Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Edward Gardner. -
Edward Elgar
Pomp and Circumstance - Land of Hope and Glory
Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Performer: 91热爆 Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Edward Gardner. -
Charles Villiers Stanford
Coronation Gloria
Performer: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas. -
Hubert Parry
Jerusalem
Performer: Susanna Hurrell. Performer: Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Conductor: Benjamin Nicholas. -
William Walton
Belshazzar's Feast - Crown Imperial
Performer: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton. -
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Mass in G minor - Credo
Performer: London Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Richard Hickox. -
Choir of Westminster Abbey
Old Hundredth
Music Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams. Conductor: James O鈥橠onnell.
Credits
Role | Contributor |
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Presenter | David Starkey |
Series Producer | Peter Sweasey |
Executive Producer | Nicolas Kent |
Director | Peter Sweasey |
Extended Performances
Watch full excerpts of some of the musical pieces featured in the series.