We eagerly awaited the premiere of Downton Abbey which was on PBS last night, and I was especially interested to see what was used for the music for Mary and Matthew’s wedding. It was John Stanley’s Trumpet Voluntary in D. This is a piece which I have played countless times, both as a solo organist and with a trumpeter.
Here is a video of this piece, in a performance by organist Bernhard Hannöver:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wh7-c4CKAc?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
John Stanley (1712-1786) was a blind organist. I didn’t know till now, however, that it was an accident when he was 2 years old, that caused his blindness when he fell on a marble hearth with a china basin in his hand. He was a student of Maurice Greene, and was appointed to his first church job at age eleven. Apparently Georg Frideric Handel regularly heard Stanley perform on organ and harpsichord at the Society of the Inner Temple. Here’s what I found interesting from the Wikipedia entry:
Though virtually blind, Stanley had a remarkable memory which helped him direct many of Handel’s oratorios and to enjoy music-making and card games with his many friends. If he had to accompany a new oratorio he would ask his sister-in-law to play it through just once—enough to commit it to memory.
The term “trumpet voluntary” even has its own Wikipedia entry. It is a piece featuring the trumpet stop, and alternates with “plenum” — full organ. The most famous Trumpet Voluntary (also called “The Prince of Denmark’s March”) is the one by Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707), and was used for the wedding of Princess Diana to Prince Charles. Click here and you’ll recognize it.
I have just listened to Diane bish playing this Piece ,, and did,t like it one bit ,, it was really very loud , and for my taste too American ,, too much going on the organ she played it on sounded like a wurlitzer at a fair ground,, I much prefer this Piece ,,, I think it is how it should be played, it is clear ,, and at the same time uplifting ,, it took me a while to find out what the Name of the Piece is ,, can anyone tell me if its available on cd and who would be playing it , the Name of the cd any ideas , thanks
[…] is a column titled “Top posts and pages,” and for the last couple of weeks, my post Music for Downton Abbey has been listed there. Downton Abbey “has become one of the most widely watched television […]
Please show us the music for Edith and Bertie’s wedding
Yes….what was the piano piece played at Edith’s wedding?
Please check out http://insanity.blogs.lchwelcome.org/2016/03/07/lady-ediths-wedding-music/ for commentary on the music that was performed for Lady Edith’s wedding.
what organ composition was played in lady mary’s second wedding please?
Sorry, Norbert, it’s been a long time since I watched Downton Abbey, and I do not have the DVD for Season 6 when Mary married Henry. I recall at the time, though, that the music was not easily identifiable, so it may have been newly-composed. If you can find a clip of the wedding scene, please post it so I can see it. I looked through YouTube with no success.