The Classical Queen
Next week, as part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we will be putting together a series of concerts in collaboration with TLC and the Earl’s Court Community Trust. Through research for this event, we’ve discovered the lasting interest that Queen Elizabeth II has had in the world of classical music. Ahead of the Jubilee, we thought we should share some of our findings!
While Queen Elizabeth II is not an out-and-out classical music afficionado, and she has only rarely been seen in the Royal Box of the very Royal Opera House, her love of music and her contribution of the musical life of the UK throughout her reign should not be under-estimated.
Her relationship with the world of classical music goes back to before she ascended to the throne, when she was awarded not one, but two, honorary degrees in music – a Bachelor of Music (BMus) from the University of London and a Doctor of Music (DMus) from the University of Wales.
The Queen after receiving honorary degree in music London
Over the course of her long reign, Elizabeth II has appointed a whopping four Royal Masters of Music. and each of her choices has sustained the vibrancy of British classical music and composition. Rather than impose her more traditional tastes on the arts world, she has instated some extraordinary contemporary composers to the post, including the first ever woman to hold the role - Judith Weir.
The Queen and Judith Weir
In 2005, the queen also established "The Queen's medal for music," which has been awarded to opera and singing talents such as Brynn Terfel and Emma Kirkby. In the words of Britain's most celebrated composer, Sir Charles Mackerras, this medal is " a concrete symbol of the esteem which most of us feel musical life in Britain deserves.”
The Queen and Dame Emma Kirkby and Sir Peter Maxwell Davis
Queen Elizabeth is patron of over 600 musical institutions including: Help Musicians UK, National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Choral Society, Southbank Centre, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the rather niche Piobaireachd Society, which encourages the study and playing of the classical music on the bagpipe.
During her reign culture has thrived in the UK and classical music and opera have flourished. Queen Elizabeth has been very much a part of that...
Oh, and her favourite music? Well, for her 90th birthday she revealed her personal top ten, and here it is:
Howard Keel – ‘Oklahoma!’
Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson – ‘Anything You Can Do (Annie Get Your Gun)’
Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band featuring the Military Wives – ‘Sing’
Fred Astaire – ‘Cheek to Cheek’
Vera Lynn – ‘The White Cliffs Of Dover’
George Formby – ‘Leaning on a Lamp-post’
Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven (hymn)
The Lord is My Shepherd (hymn)
Lester Lanin Medley
Regimental March Milanoll
Our concerts will take place from the 1st to the 5th of June in and around Earl’s Court. Buy tickets for our concert on Sunday 5th June and find out more information via the link below.
