Master of the Queen's Music facts for kids
Master of the Queen's Music (or Master of the King's Music when the United Kingdom has a king) is the title given to one chosen composer of classical music; it is a post in the Royal Household of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom. Only one person holds the title at any one time. It is very similar to the post of Poet Laureate which is for a poet.
The Master of the Queen's Music is now Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Instead of being appointed for life, he was appointed for a ten-year term, starting March 2004. The change was to give more composers the opportunity to serve.
The Master of the Queen's Music has the job of composing music for special royal occasions such as anniversaries, marriages and funerals, and for special ceremonies.
The title was created in 1626 by Charles I. It was spelt Master of the King's Musick and was always spelt that way until the time of Sir Edward Elgar who was Master from 1924 to 1934.
Holders of the post have been:
- Nicholas Lanier (1625-1649 and 1660-1666)
- Louis Grabu (1666-1674)
- Nicholas Staggins (1674-1700)
- John Eccles (1700-1735)
- Maurice Greene (1735-1755)
- William Boyce (1755-1779)
- John Stanley (1779-1786)
- William Parsons (1786-1817)
- William Shield (1817-1829)
- Christian Kramer (1829-1834)
- Franz Cramer (1834-1848)
- George Frederick Anderson (1848-1870)
- Sir William George Cusins (1870-1893)
- Professor Sir Walter Parratt, KCVO (1893-1924)
- Sir Edward Elgar, Bt OM GCVO (1924-1934)
- Sir Henry Walford Davies, KCVO OBE (1934-1941)
- Sir Arnold Bax, KCVO (1942-1952)
- Sir Arthur Bliss, CH KCVO (1953-1975)
- Malcolm Williamson, CBE AO (1975-2003)
- Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE (2004-appointed until 2014)
Images for kids
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William Shield, Master, 1817–29
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Sir Edward Elgar, Master, 1924–34
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Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
