'David Starkey's Music and Monarchy'

[MickyD]

I have always hoped that more recordings would be made of Croft's music, he is very underrated in my opinion. I still have an excellent old National Trust LP of Croft recorded by a period band directed by John Holloway and would desperately love to see it re-released on CD.

[ardcarp]

I've got it too.

[BBMmk2]

I have always hoped that more recordings would be made of Croft's music, he is very underrated in my opinion. I still have an excellent old National Trust LP of Croft recorded by a period band directed by John Holloway and would desperately love to see it re-released on CD.

Quite so, MickyD, re Croft's music.. Not heard much these day. if I'm not mistaken?

[Barbirollians]

I am allergic to the presenter.

[MickyD]

This is a nice disc:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Croft-Te-Deum-Burial-Service/dp/B000A7XJO2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1485176039&sr=1-1&keywords=croft

[ahinton]

I am allergic to the presenter.

You are not alone; his habitual know-it-all-but-no-one-else-does manner and approach is alone sufficient to encourage such a reaction...

[Serial_Apologist]

You are not alone; his habitual know-it-all-but-no-one-else-does is alone sufficient to encourage such a reaction...

He's only nine months older than me, and yet looks like he could be my grandfather!

[ahinton]

He's only nine months older than me, and yet looks like he could be my grandfather!

But that's surely far more likely to be down to your youthful appearance than his aged one...

[Serial_Apologist]

But that's surely far more likely to be down to your youthful appearance than his aged one...

Oh, undoubtedly.

[ardcarp]

This is a nice disc:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Croft-Te-De...keywords=croft

Thanks Micky. I've got that too. The Burial Service or Funeral Sentences (strictly 'by Purcell and Crofts' [sic]) has never gone out of use. It is related that during Croft's lifetime a great admirer, one Humphrey Wyrly Birch, Esq.

whose passion for church music of the pathetic kind particularly the funeral sentences by Purcell and Crofts was such that he would quit the most remote part of the kingdom and ride night and day in order to hear it performed at Westminster Abbey.

[MickyD]

It's the theatre music that we need on CD...that old National Trust LP had a suite called something like 'The Comedy Call'd The Funerals' - it has the most wonderful chaconne at the end that I would love to hear again.

[ardcarp]

Between 1700 and 1703, Croft wrote overtures and incidental music to Courtship a la Mode, The Comedy Call'd the Funeral, The Twin Rivals and The Lying Lover.

Courtship a la Mode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgU40SVVkGw

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sajYs2ugWIU

For his Oxford Doctorate he set two odes on the Peace of Utrecht which were published as Musicus Apparatus Academicus. I'm not sure if anyone has dug these out let alone performed them. A nice little project for the future?

[oddoneout]

You are not alone; his habitual know-it-all-but-no-one-else-does manner and approach is alone sufficient to encourage such a reaction...

I'm glad it's not just me. I was looking forward to these programmes,( not having watched the presenter before) but only lasted for a short part of the first one. I think the snippety approach to the music contributions would have irritated me whoever presented but could have been tolerated for someone who engaged my attention rather than aroused my annoyance.
Good idea poorly executed as far as I'm concerned.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm glad it's not just me. I was looking forward to these programmes,( not having watched the presenter before) but only lasted for a short part of the first one. I think the snippety approach to the music contributions would have irritated me whoever presented but could have been tolerated for someone who engaged my attention rather than aroused my annoyance.
Good idea poorly executed as far as I'm concerned.

I have noticed also Starkey's tendency to "interpret" answers given to him by the early music experts by way of whopping assertions back at them, one assumes unscripted, of what they tell him; and I've noticed the often bemused looks they present in quiet or silent response.

[ardcarp]

Marmite figure though he is, Starkey has a huge knowledge of the history of English monarchy. I don't know whose idea it was to link that with a parallel history of musical styles and performances, but it's an excellent one and I'm glad it has happened. The modus operandi of the programme is that musicians should provide the expert knowledge which Starkey does not lay claim to (David Skinner having been possibly the best so far IMHO) even if, as suggested above, it didn't always work. Most TV production nowadays indulges in overkill in making its subject matter 'accessible'. I guess Starkey is seen as a secret weapon in that regard...though clearly for some he is a rogue Trident! Thank God we just saw him observing the professionals and not trying to play the bass viol, direct the AAM or (heaven forbid) improvise English Discant.