Master of the King's Music
Duties are not clearly stated, though it is generally expected the holder of the post will write music to commemorate important royal events, such as coronations, birthdays, anniversaries, marriages and deaths, and to accompany other ceremonial occasions.The post of Master of the King's Musick continued because George IV maintained the traditional small orchestra, which Shield's successor, Christian Kramer, directed.His tenure lasted thirty-one years from 1893, under the reigns of three monarchs – Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. In Duck's view, Parratt's role was chiefly that of musical adviser to the Crown.Among his actions in that capacity were inviting Elgar to set A. C. Benson's verses as a Coronation Ode for Edward VII in 1901, and writing an anthem for the anniversary of Queen Victoria's death in 1909.[12] Parratt's own official compositions included a contribution to a collection of choral songs by various composers in honour of Queen Victoria and a Confortare for the coronation service of Edward VII."[15] Elgar's appointment was announced in May 1924; The Times commented, "it is entirely fitting that in the changed condition of the office he should be made Master of the King's Musick and the Musician Laureate of the British people.[16] He used his influence as Master to track down the original instruments of Edward VII's band, to ensure the royal music library was well ordered, and to secure recognition for other musicians, including a knighthood for Granville Bantock and the Companion of Honour for Frederick Delius.[18] In a 1966 retrospective of the various Masters, Charles Cudworth wrote that Davies was "a fine musician, a good composer, and was even better-known as one of the world's first great broadcasters, so the appointment was popular.[21] Bliss, who composed quickly and with facility, was able to discharge the calls on him as Master, providing music as required for state occasions, from the birth of a child to the Queen, and the funeral of Winston Churchill, to the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales.[23] Williamson held the post from 1975 until his death in 2003, composing works including Lament in Memory of Lord Mountbatten of Burma (1980), Ode for Queen Elizabeth (1980), and Songs for a Royal Baby (1985).
Royal Household of the United Kingdommonarch of Englandpoet laureateKing's MinstrelsHenry VIEdward IVCity of LondonJames ICharles INicholas LanierEdward ElgarEdward VIICivil Warrestoration of the monarchyCharles IILouis GrabuNicholas StagginsHenry PurcellJohn EcclesWilliam IIIGeorge IGeorge IIGrove's Dictionary of Music and MusiciansGeorge Frideric HandelOde for the Birthday of Queen Annecoronation of George IIMaurice GreeneSt Paul's CathedralChapel RoyalWilliam BoyceGeorge IIIPrincess Charlottecoronation of the KingJohn StanleyWilliam ParsonsWilliam ShieldRobert SoutheyGeorge IVChristian KramerFranz CramerGeorge Frederick AndersonWilliam CusinsWalter ParrattSt George's Chapel, WindsorQueen VictoriaGeorge VA. C. BensonCoronation OdeNicholas KenyonRalph Vaughan WilliamsThe TimesNursery SuiteDuchess of YorkGranville BantockCompanion of HonourFrederick DeliusWalford DaviesCharles CudworthArnold BaxIrelandcoronation of Elizabeth IIWilliam WaltonArthur BlissFrank Howesfuneral of Winston Churchillinvestiture of Charles, Prince of WalesMalcolm ArnoldMalcolm WilliamsonCommonwealthLord Mountbatten of BurmaPeter Maxwell DaviesAndrew Motionthe Queen's Medal for MusicJudith WeirThe GuardianFirst World War centenaryPlatinum JubileeLike as the hartQueen's state funeralErrollyn WallenCharles IIIEnglandTest ActJames IIWilliam IIIMary IIGreat BritainUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandWilliam IVVictoriaUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandgazettedEdward VIIIGeorge VIElizabeth IIKapellmeisterJohn WarrackThe ObserverBrown, James DuffKennedy, MichaelKenyon, NicholasMoore, Jerrold NorthropRoyal Household in England, Scotland and the United KingdomLord Chamberlain of the HouseholdVice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdLord Steward of the HouseholdMaster of the HorseHis Majesty's Representative at AscotMaster of the BuckhoundsClerk MarshalTreasurer of the HouseholdComptroller of the HouseholdGreat Officers of StateLord High StewardLord ChancellorPurse BearerKeeper of the Privy SealEarl MarshalKnight MarshalPrivate Secretary to the SovereignDirector for Security LiaisonRoyal CommunicationsKeeper of the Privy PurseRoyal AlmonryLord Chamberlain's OfficeCentral Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood