According to some of the early on -line editions of the newspapers the royal couple have changed their minds again about the arrangements for the music at their wedding at the end of this month.
Having already snubbed the Master of the Queen's Musick who was expected to be asked to write a new anthem, Wills and Kate had intended to call upon the services of The Chapel Royal Choir, Westminster Abbey Choir, The London Chamber Orchestra and The Fanfare Team of The Central Band of the RAF and were to commission a new anthem from a so far un-named composer.
Now, it seems, being as conscious as they are of the current austerity measures in place in the country and the worsening economic situation (they have already decided to use a car instead of a horse- drawn carriage to take Kate to the Abbey ), they have baulked at the cost of paying the Abbey lay clerks and the other professional musicians involved expensive Equity rates and the phenomenal television and world -wide broadcasting royalties that will become due to them just for singing and playing a couple of hymns and an anthem; and have also decided that to pay for a newly commissioned anthem that may well turn out to be some atonal monstrosity that would be heard once and never again would be another unjustifiable extravagance. They will instead content themselves to one of the many lovely tuneful wedding anthems that already exist.
Consequently, they have decided to dispense with the services of both the above choirs and the orchestra and have instead invited William's old school chapel choir from Eton College to sing the the hymns, Love Divine, Fight the Good Fight, and the anthem Set Me As A Seal. They will keep the Fanfare Team as they are employed by the Government and will not cost anything to hire.
Ralph Allwood, Eton's Director of Music has said that it will be a great honour for the choir and himself in his retirement year to provide the music at the wedding of such a distinguished old boy and that the College would not consider accepting even a modest fee and travelling expenses for performing at what is after all a religious service not a commercial concert. Just to be in the Abbey on this magnificent occasion will be reward enough he said.
The only concession to new music and following the example of his aunt Anne and Mark Philips who left the Abbey to the strains of the Captain's regimental march, will be the couple's decision to process out after signing the register to a new arrangement for organ and trumpets by James O'Donnell of The Eton Boating Song.
Personally,whilst applauding William and Kate's public spiritedness in these difficult financial times for us lesser mortals, I do think the new arrangements will detract rather from the sense of occasion. Good as they are, and what a coincidence that we heard Eton College Chapel Choir on CE only last week, they will look a bit drab in their Eton suits and collars with surplices chucked over the top. I will miss the sumptuous scarlet cassocks of the Westminster choir ( matched only by those worn by the boys and men at St Albans ) and those wonderful Tudor costumes of the Children of The Chapel.
The Dean of Westminster Dr John Hall said he was disappointed but understood and respected the couple's decision and was sure that they would change their minds yet again before today was out.
VCC
Having already snubbed the Master of the Queen's Musick who was expected to be asked to write a new anthem, Wills and Kate had intended to call upon the services of The Chapel Royal Choir, Westminster Abbey Choir, The London Chamber Orchestra and The Fanfare Team of The Central Band of the RAF and were to commission a new anthem from a so far un-named composer.
Now, it seems, being as conscious as they are of the current austerity measures in place in the country and the worsening economic situation (they have already decided to use a car instead of a horse- drawn carriage to take Kate to the Abbey ), they have baulked at the cost of paying the Abbey lay clerks and the other professional musicians involved expensive Equity rates and the phenomenal television and world -wide broadcasting royalties that will become due to them just for singing and playing a couple of hymns and an anthem; and have also decided that to pay for a newly commissioned anthem that may well turn out to be some atonal monstrosity that would be heard once and never again would be another unjustifiable extravagance. They will instead content themselves to one of the many lovely tuneful wedding anthems that already exist.
Consequently, they have decided to dispense with the services of both the above choirs and the orchestra and have instead invited William's old school chapel choir from Eton College to sing the the hymns, Love Divine, Fight the Good Fight, and the anthem Set Me As A Seal. They will keep the Fanfare Team as they are employed by the Government and will not cost anything to hire.
Ralph Allwood, Eton's Director of Music has said that it will be a great honour for the choir and himself in his retirement year to provide the music at the wedding of such a distinguished old boy and that the College would not consider accepting even a modest fee and travelling expenses for performing at what is after all a religious service not a commercial concert. Just to be in the Abbey on this magnificent occasion will be reward enough he said.
The only concession to new music and following the example of his aunt Anne and Mark Philips who left the Abbey to the strains of the Captain's regimental march, will be the couple's decision to process out after signing the register to a new arrangement for organ and trumpets by James O'Donnell of The Eton Boating Song.
Personally,whilst applauding William and Kate's public spiritedness in these difficult financial times for us lesser mortals, I do think the new arrangements will detract rather from the sense of occasion. Good as they are, and what a coincidence that we heard Eton College Chapel Choir on CE only last week, they will look a bit drab in their Eton suits and collars with surplices chucked over the top. I will miss the sumptuous scarlet cassocks of the Westminster choir ( matched only by those worn by the boys and men at St Albans ) and those wonderful Tudor costumes of the Children of The Chapel.
The Dean of Westminster Dr John Hall said he was disappointed but understood and respected the couple's decision and was sure that they would change their minds yet again before today was out.
VCC
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