Chapel Royal
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
The Chapel Royal is a group of priests and singers who sing church services for the British monarch (king or queen). It is a very old tradition. Today the two chapels used by the Chapel Royal are the Chapel Royal and the Queen’s Chapel. Both are at St James’s Palace, not far from Buckingham Palace in London. The term "Chapel Royal" therefore means either the group of singers or the building called Chapel Royal.
These chapels do not belong to the diocese (group of churches in a district). That is why they are called “royal peculiars” (“peculiar” in this sense does not mean “strange” but “special”). Services are held every Sunday except during August and September. Members of the public are welcome to go to these services. This is the only time that the public can go into the royal chapels. The choir also sing at special services, including one held every year on 6 January to celebrate Epiphany when offerings of gold, francinsence and myrrh are made on behalf of the queen.
[change] History
The Chapel Royal dates back to the late 13th century. At that time the priests and choir travelled with the king wherever he went.
In the 17th century the chapel had its own building in Whitehall, which burned down in 1698. Since 1702 it has been based in St. James's Palace.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the choir was the best choir in England. William Byrd and Thomas Tallis were both organists there during the reign of Elizabeth I. Boy choristers from choirs outside London were sometimes made to join the Chapel Royal if they had beautiful voices. These boys also took part in plays at the king or queen’s court. Charles II liked musical instruments, so the choir were often joined by violins, lutes and viols. The men in the choir were called “Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal”.
Some very famous composers were organists at the Chapel Royal. These include: Thomas Tallis (c.1545-85), William Byrd (c.1572-c.1618), John Bull (1591-1613), Orlando Gibbons (1605-25), John Blow (1673/4-1708), Henry Purcell (1682-95), Jeremiah Clarke (1704-1707), William Croft (1708-27), and George Frideric Handel organist from (1723-59). At the time Handel was appointed he was still German, not English, so he was not allowed to be a member. Instead, he was given a special title: "Composer of Musick of His Majesty's Chappel Royal".
Today the Choir rehearses twice weekly at St James's Palace. The choir consists of six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary who are professional singers, and ten boys who have scholarships to go to the City of London School where they are called Queen's Scholars.
The composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is Master of the Queen's Music, works closely with the Chapel Royal. He wants to compose a new carol for them every Christmas.
The head of the Chapel Royal in Scotland is a Dean. Another Chapel Royal once existed in Ireland.
[change] See also
- Anglican church music
[change] Other websites
- Chapels Royal, from the official site of the British Monarchy
