The Well-Tempered Ear

What classical music was played at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton? And what are the 300 most popular classical music works in UK?

By Jacob Stockinger

It seems like longer, but it was only a little over two weeks ago that Prince William married his live-in girlfriend Kate Middleton, and the world media went wild.

People here got up at 3 in the morning to watch it live on TV. And it was played as a non-stop loop throughout the day.

Now, where is are the beloved and much praised couple?

Oh well. It just goes to show how easy it is to capture and then lose the attention of the world’s media.

Follow-through is decidedly not their strong point.

Anyway, here are some stories about the music (no surprise, much of it British) that was played – and was not played – at the royal ceremonies.

Hope you enjoy:

ITEM: What music was played at THE wedding? You know, the one between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Maybe British composers like Edward Elgar (below top) and William Walton (below middle)? Some other standards? How about some new music and unknown composers like Hubert Parry (below bottom)?

Take a look and tell me what you think and what you would have chosen for the occasion:

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/blog/2011/April/28/Music-for-the-Wedding-Service

ITEM: Famous New Yorker critic Alex Ross (below) had his own solution for a fanfare for the Royal Wedding. Take a listen:

http://www.therestisnoise.com/2011/04/fanfare-for-the-royal-wedding-world-premiere.html

ITEM: What are the 300 most popular works of classical music in the United Kingdom? What is No. 1? Take a look – and don’t be surprised if four out of the Top 10 go to British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar. Would Americans feel the same way about Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber? Makes you wonder.

I’ll give you a hint in the form of a photo (below):

http://halloffame2011.classicfm.co.uk/

ITEM: Speaking of Brits, a long forgotten early piano work, never before performed work by Ralph Vaughan Williams (below) will be recorded and released later this year:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/forgotten-vaughan-williams-work-to-be-recorded

Can you ever get too much Vaughan Williams?