Music for a Royal Wedding

I am writing this while Young Victoria is playing on Star Movies. It is an interesting, very well made movie about a queen’s love story. I must watch it again with full concentration when I am not thinking that it is also one more proof of the public’s continuing fascination with British royalty. That public includes us, which is why we eagerly joined the world audience who watched the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton televised live from Westminster Abbey last April 29.

Given the three centuries we had under Spain, we should logically be more interested in the goings-on in the Spanish royal house. But thanks to America which freed itself from Great Britain but remains at awe of English kings, queens, princes and all things in close proximity to the supposedly privileged creatures. That is why movies about British royalty are often honored at the Academy Awards. That is why David and Victoria Beckham are treated almost as royals. That is why there seems to be the perception that the British are always better at most things.

One of these is pageantry. I had been listening to The Royal Wedding, the official album of the wedding of William, and I cannot help but marvel at the amount of planning and I believe, practice that went into creating such perfection. Did they measure how long it will take for the bride to walk from the door of the Abbey to the altar so that the hymn I Was Glad begins and ends at the same time? Whose idea was it to include the fanfare Valiant and Brave composed by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs RAF, a member of the No. 22 Squadron Search and Rescue Helicopters where William is also a member? And what a nice touch it was to use Love Divine after the couple have said their vows.

The precision is not the only thing that amazes. The music is totally British and is performed by two choirs, the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St. James Palace. These singers, and they include young boys, sound like angels. I think of the work that went into getting them together and the hours they spent on rehearsals to come out singing this way. Some Brits might question the relevance of royalty in this day and age, but I do not think there were complaints about the time and expense spent to create, what else, so I say it again, but perfection.

The CD is one of the many souvenir items that were released to celebrate the wedding. The video might seem better if you want to recall the magic moments, the first sight of Kate in that dress, the colorful guests in those hats, the kiss on the balcony. But the recording, which was done live, brings focus to the beautiful music, the vows and the readings. Without the distraction of sight, these come across as doubly meaningful.

Of course, I am also thinking of how much participation Will and Kate had in putting the ceremony together. Is this the sort of music they wanted? Do they, like most young couples, have a song? You know, the tune that was playing when they met, when they first kissed or when he asked her to marry him. Did they want this played at their wedding? Maybe. But then they had duties to the Crown and must abide by them. Anyway, they had a fairytale wedding and they seemed happy. Let us all wish them well and pray that like Victoria and Albert, they will be happy for a long time.

Not like Charles and Diana. Which brings me to the wedding album of the once Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981. I remember getting my hands on the LP and looking at the beautiful photographs. Remember that was an LP. That meant, 12” by 12” colored pictures. The music of this royal wedding comes in a smaller disc with a few pictures. Oh well, I would much rather have happiness than gorgeous packaging that turned out to be a sham.

And now I must make sure I get a copy of Young Victoria. I too, am interested; okay, make that — I, too, am sometimes fascinated by British royalty.