David Starkey's MUSIC & MONARCHY 1. Crown & Choir

Dr David Starkey reveals how the story of British music was shaped by its monarchy. In this first episode he begins with kings who were also composers - Henry V and Henry VIII - and the golden age of English music they presided over. He discovers how the military and religious ambitions of England's monarchy made its music the envy of Europe - and then brought it to the brink of destruction - and why British music still owes a huge debt to Queen Elizabeth I.
Featuring specially recorded music performances from King's College Cambridge, Canterbury Cathedral and Eton College, and early music ensemble Alamire; and the music of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, John Dunstable and John Dowland.
Dr Starkey reveals why Henry V took a choir with him to the Battle of Agincourt, and hears the music the king wrote to keep God on-side in his crusade against the French - rarely performed in the centuries since, and now sung by the choir at Canterbury Cathedral. He visits Eton College, founded by Henry VI, where today's choristers sing from a hand-illuminated choir-book which would have been used by their 16th-century predecessors; King's College, Cambridge, built by successive generations of monarchs and still world-famous for its choir; and the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, where Henry VIII and Elizabeth I heard works created especially for their worship by some of the greatest composers in British history.
www.bbc.co.uk/p...

[@saradecapua3264]

How did I miss this? Great program. I love David Starkey.

[@annchadwick4613]

Superb video Thank you Dr Starkey I have saved this to enjoy over and over

[@kevinwhite8759]

In these trying times I really needed this

[@jeanglendinning1860]

when i was a child my grandfather insisted on the family standing up when ever the Hallelujah chorus was played.

[@elizabethsohler1847]

That came about because the King stood the first time the chorus was played.

[@Londonfogey]

It's still generally the custom for audiences to stand for the Halleluljah chorus, at least in Britain. I once heard it in the Royal Albert Hall and the thunder of several thousand tip up seats all being raised at once was something to behold!

[@elizabethsohler1847]

@@Londonfogey That's not really something you'd behold. is it? I know it's something you'd hear even in the present!

[@stephanbach1652]

It’s still done in America.

[@emghee2510]

Thanks for uploading this amazing documentary! Third time watching the whole series through here. Thank you!

[@garyhinkle5736]

Magnificent Series Of Music🎵

[@Kiki-fe2le]

Jesus Lord is King of Kings! Hallelujah!!!

[@fredhoupt4078]

wonderful. Beautiful.

[@I_only_think_of_me]

I’m not creationist, but this man is so indescribably passionate, I watched, enjoyed and learned a great deal. A substantial gentleman.

[@aaronbrett762]

Theo. P

[@aaronbrett762]

I

[@thysonsacclaim]

He's an atheist himself

[@robertd.carver6240]

Regarding the Emperor Sigismund: he was not permitted to set foot on English soil before he publicly abdicated all claims of overlordship, which supposedly dated back to the time when Richard the Lionhearted swore fealty to the contemporary 12th century German emperor, as a condition of his release from prison. In fact, Sigismund was greeted at Dover with the drawn swords of the welcoming committee.

[@reasonablyserious]

The English have been selecting the contracts they want to keep for a while then :P

[@dandalf02]

This is marvellous, thank you for uploading it. Has anyone got any idea what the music that starts playing at 54:53 is?

[@AirsoftGhillieSnipez]

Flow my tears - John dowland

[@spartan.falbion2761]

This type of music is ensouls one with something undescribable. In my youthful folly, when Dr.Starkey had a show on Talk RADIO UK, I overlooked him as the "B act" to funnier and more combative presenters.

[@Kiki-fe2le]

Comments that hate the religious themes fail to realize that following Jesus Christ actually results in impressive creativity. The more the society degrades and rejects God the more you see an overall degradation in all areas of humankind including the arts. Not a coincidence. Thus we got music today about Twerking and all kinds of debauchery.

[@naturesinterface6663]

1) You're basically paraphrasing a point of Taliban doctrine. 2) The wealth that enabled this "high culture" came from serfdom, slavery, imperialism, mass murder, and genocide.

[@donnabeadle1568]

Kiki dear lady I so agree with you! Out of Christ pours forth the fruit of all the senses!

[@Kiki-fe2le]

@@donnabeadle1568 AMEN

[@Sebastian_Snuffle]

Agreed. ❤

[@Tridhos]

Handel that most British of composers who was a German just like the king

[@europeanbourgeois8223]

Tridhos Welcome to Britain...it’s like the USA of Europe.

[@annamcuthbert3993]

Great Composer

[@MrOnionterror]

That Dunstable sounds really fiddly.

[@ejbvermont]

Is this zoomed in?

[@reasonablyserious]

The only problem I have with this is how they're acting as if music after the reformation was somehow musically uninteresting/unsophisticated, which it wasn't. Early Music is lovely, but what came after it wasn't exactly a lesser art.

[@christopherbeardsworth9351]

The only section of this docu.that i like,and thats when kingscollege choir are doing what they now best,,,SING.

[@Munkyfarmmedia]

+christopher beardsworth So, even with all Dr. Starkey's erudition, and all the research that went into this program, and all the talent which had to be assembled, the only part you liked was the singing. What a sad, sad thing to say.

[@el7284]

@@Munkyfarmmedia and not even all of the singing. How dreadful

[@pamtime22]

You are clearly using your religious preference here to judge music. Not good!

[@danielthomas3341]

+Basil, The Reader of History True lol, he picked them because they were simply the pinnacle of all English music at the time...

[@danielthomas3341]

lol you're lack of knowledge in you're criticism...not good! lol

[@flipjin]

*your

[@alangibbons7702]

A remark coming from profound ignorance. The title of the program is MUSIC and MONARCHY and this is exactly and precisely what is delivered. At the time of this music there was no other great music in existence.