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1564. The Scottish ambassador to Elizabeth I's court experiences at first-hand how the queen uses music as a diplomatic tool. Historian Suzannah Lipscomb joins Gillian Moore.

1564. England. Elizabeth I uses music as a powerful tool of statecraft. A skilled musician herself, she exploits music鈥檚 intimacy in her diplomatic relations and its potential for grandeur and symbolism to project authority. She also uses music in her attempt to regulate religious tension, balancing Protestant reform with the rich musical traditions of the Catholic church, sustaining composers like Tallis and Byrd. And music also helps in her construction of her image as the Virgin Queen.

Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new 91福利社 Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For the next eight programmes, historian Suzannah Lipscomb is in the chair, as together they travel from the late sixteenth to the early eighteenth century.

Anon: My Lady Carey鈥檚 Dompe
Trevor Pinnock, virginals

Tallis: Spem in alium
I Fagiolini, directed by Robert Hollingworth

Anon (arr. Praetorius): La Volta
Bellot Ensemble

Britten: Symphonic Suite from Gloriana, III. The Courtly Dances
91福利社 Philharmonic, conducted by Edward Gardner

Robert Parsons: First Great Service, Nunc dimittis
Voces Cantabiles, directed by Barnaby Smith

Byrd : O Lord, Make Thy Servant Elizabeth
91福利社 Singers, conducted by Owain Park

Byrd: Civitas Sancti Tui
The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers

Weelkes: As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending
Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
91福利社 Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis

Producer: Chris Taylor
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for 91福利社 Audio: Emma Harding
Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the 91福利社 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.

19 days left to listen

56 minutes

Music Played

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Director: Robert Hollingworth.
    • CORO.
  • Anon.

    La Volta

    Music Arranger: Michael Praetorius. Ensemble: Bellot Ensemble.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Gloriana, Op.53a (The Courtly Dances)

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Robert Parsons

    First Great Service (Nunc dimittis)

    Choir: Voces Cantabiles. Conductor: Barnaby Smith.
    • NAXOS.
  • William Byrd

    O Lord, Make Thy Servant Elizabeth

    Choir: 91福利社 Singers. Conductor: Owain Park.
  • William Byrd

    Civitas Sancti Tui

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Thomas Weelkes

    Latmos Hill Descending (As Vesta Was)

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Director: John Rutter.
    • COLLEGIUM.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • TELDEC.

Broadcast

  • Sat 30 May 2026 13:00