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Harry and Meghan's Royal Wedding music will have 'American slant', conductor says
May 9, 2018
The St George's Chapel wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have an "American slant", the orchestra's conductor has said, as he discloses the bride's wish to represent her homeland through music.
Christopher Warren-Green, who will conduct musicians at a Royal wedding for a third time on May 19, said an American influence would be heard in the music.
"The theme, just like anybody's wedding, has to reflect something, and what that something is I'm not going to say," he said.
"I think I can say to you that there will, of course, be quite an American slant on this one, because we're about to get a brand new, and wonderful princess."
He told Canadian media: "I think it's safe for me to say without a doubt we will have an American slant to this wedding of course."
Christopher Warren-Green, who will conduct musicians at a Royal wedding for a third time on May 19, said an American influence would be heard in the music.
"The theme, just like anybody's wedding, has to reflect something, and what that something is I'm not going to say," he said.
He told Canadian media: "I think it's safe for me to say without a doubt we will have an American slant to this wedding of course."
Warren-Green, who also performed at the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, will conduct a orchestra made up of musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia.
While he has known Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge since they were children, disclosing "when they were very tiny, I'd run into them at Buckingham Palace", he has not yet spent time with Ms Markle.
While he has known Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge since they were children, disclosing "when they were very tiny, I'd run into them at Buckingham Palace", he has not yet spent time with Ms Markle.
"I've not met Meghan Markle, but I've been watching 'Suits,' " he told the WFAE radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is director of the Charlotte Symphony.
"This is actually my third royal wedding, so I was really surprised to get the call and delighted. I'm very excited about it."
Experts yesterday predicted that the American musical elements could come from Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, one of the most beloved pieces in the US classical repertoire built around a courtship and wedding.
Experts yesterday predicted that the American musical elements could come from Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, one of the most beloved pieces in the US classical repertoire built around a courtship and wedding.
Sam Jackson, managing editor of Classic FM, said "no composer better embodies the sound of America" than Copland, also suggesting Amy Beach, the first American woman to publish a symphony, or Leroy Anderson.
He added: "George Gershwin was a master songwriter, and a master romantic. The orchestration of his famous melody, Embraceable You, would be perfect for a wedding.
"Although not an orchestral piece, when it comes to American classical music there is no more apt a choice for a wedding than This Marriage by the contemporary composer, Eric Whitacre."
Original Telgraph story here.
He added: "George Gershwin was a master songwriter, and a master romantic. The orchestration of his famous melody, Embraceable You, would be perfect for a wedding.
"Although not an orchestral piece, when it comes to American classical music there is no more apt a choice for a wedding than This Marriage by the contemporary composer, Eric Whitacre."
Original Telgraph story here.
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