History of the Chapel Royal: EMS 1st September

[oddoneout]

R3 used to do series of programmes devoted to a single historic topic (I keep coming across "Third of Six Programmes" when compiling the Today's the Day posts): there's a whole six- (or eight-) part weekly series Music at the Chapel Royal that could be made by a truly "distinctive cultural Music radio station".

Indeed. And if resources are being sent to a location why not make the most of the costs involved and get enough material for more than one programme? Actually I imagine they did, just didn't use it. I did feel at times that Joseph McHardy sounded a trifle irritated and I wondered if that was because of having to do 'soundbites' rather than proper explanations - but perhaps it's just his manner.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There was a week-long (five programmes) Composers of the Week back in May, 2012, devoted to Music written for the Chapel Royal - a repeat of that series following this EMS might have given some evidence of "joined-up thinking" at the Beeb.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hjn1q

As it is, if you want something doing ...

If you have access to a friendly local Library (or deep pockets - I got my copy for under a fiver at a second-hand bookshop in Edinburgh! <slapthatsmuglookoffyourfaceemoticon>) then this is a good read:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/handel-and-the-english-chapel-royal-9780199550968?cc=gb&lang=en&

EDIT: Amazon have paperback copies at £39 - still a bit breath-taking!

[ardcarp]

...and I'd just mention that Donald Burrows (refer to second link above) also published performing editions of William Crroft's canticles and anthems with instrumental accompaniment. (Croft was a boy and later organist+gentleman extraordinary of the Chapel Royal.) Whilst Croft was, of course, not in the same league as a composer, I believe his ceremonial works (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pqcVwC0Ues) was a considerable influence on Handel's 'English' choral style.