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Choir of the Chapel Royal, Copenhagen.<ref>[http://www.crescendi.org/profile.php?artist=110 Denmark]</ref>
Choir of the Chapel Royal, Copenhagen.<ref>[http://www.crescendi.org/profile.php?artist=110 Denmark]</ref>


==Commonwealth realms==
==United Kingdom==
In the [[Commonwealth realms]], the Chapel Royal is a department of the [[Ecclesiastical Household]] of the [[Monarchy|monarch]] in right of either the [[United Kingdom]] or [[Canada]] formally known as the royal ''Free Chapel of the Household''. The household in the UK is further divided into two parts: an ecclesiastical household each for [[England]] and [[Scotland]], belonging to the [[Church of Scotland]] and the [[Church of England]], respectively, while in Canada the household is a part of the [[Anglican Church of Canada]].
The Chapel Royal is a department of the [[Ecclesiastical Household]] of the [[Monarchy|monarch]] formally known as the royal ''Free Chapel of the Household''. The household is further divided into two parts: an ecclesiastical household each for [[England]] and [[Scotland]], belonging to the [[Church of Scotland]] and the [[Church of England]], respectively.


===History===
Emerging as a distinct body in the late 13th century{{mdash}} dating from 1483 as presently constituted, and first establishing the office of [[Dean of the Chapel Royal]] in 1312{{mdash}} the Chapel Royal formerly had no official base, but travelled, like the rest of the court, with the monarch and held services wherever he or she was residing at the time, until [[James I of England|James VI]] commissioned [[William Schaw]] to build a new Chapel Royal at [[Stirling Castle]] in 1594. The [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] building was used for the christening of James's son, [[Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales|Prince Henry]].<small><ref>{{Cite book| last=Glendinning| first=Miles| coauthors=McKechnie, Aonghus| title=Scottish Architecture| publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]| year=2004| location=London| page=61| isbn=978-0500203743}}</ref></small> In the 17th century the chapel had its own building in [[Whitehall]], which burned down in 1698; since 1702 it has been based at St James's Palace.
Emerging as a distinct body in the late 13th century{{mdash}} dating from 1483 as presently constituted, and first establishing the office of [[Dean of the Chapel Royal]] in 1312{{mdash}} the Chapel Royal formerly had no official base, but travelled, like the rest of the court, with the monarch and held services wherever he or she was residing at the time, until [[James I of England|James VI]] commissioned [[William Schaw]] to build a new Chapel Royal at [[Stirling Castle]] in 1594. The [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] building was used for the christening of James's son, [[Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales|Prince Henry]].<small><ref>{{Cite book| last=Glendinning| first=Miles| coauthors=McKechnie, Aonghus| title=Scottish Architecture| publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]| year=2004| location=London| page=61| isbn=978-0500203743}}</ref></small> In the 17th century the chapel had its own building in [[Whitehall]], which burned down in 1698; since 1702 it has been based at St James's Palace.


The chapel's [[choir]], known as the [[Children of the Chapel|Children of the Chapel Royal]], achieved its greatest eminence during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]], when [[William Byrd]] and [[Thomas Tallis]] were joint [[Organ (music)|organists]]. The ''[[Master of the Children]]'' had, until at least 1684, the power to "press-gang" promising [[Boy soprano|boy treble]]s from provincial choirs for service in the chapel; until 1626 the [[Choirboy|boy choristers]] also [[actor|acted]] in productions of [[Play (theatre)|plays]] at court. Because its what singers do, in the 18th century the choristers sang the soprano parts in performances of [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]'s [[oratorio]]s and other works. Under [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], the choir was often augmented by [[violin]]ists from the royal band; at various times the chapel has also employed [[composer]]s, [[lute]]nists and [[viol]] players.
The chapel's [[choir]], known as the [[Children of the Chapel|Children of the Chapel Royal]], achieved its greatest eminence during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]], when [[William Byrd]] and [[Thomas Tallis]] were joint [[Organ (music)|organists]]. The ''[[Master of the Children]]'' had, until at least 1684, the power to "press-gang" promising [[Boy soprano|boy treble]]s from provincial choirs for service in the chapel; until 1626 the [[Choirboy|boy choristers]] also [[actor|acted]] in productions of [[Play (theatre)|plays]] at court. Because its what singers do, in the 18th century the choristers sang the soprano parts in performances of [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]'s [[oratorio]]s and other works. Under [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], the choir was often augmented by [[violin]]ists from the royal band; at various times the chapel has also employed [[composer]]s, [[lute]]nists and [[viol]] players.

[[Mohawk Chapel|The Queen's Chapel of the Mohawks]] and [[Christ Church Royal Chapel|Christ Church, Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk]], were associated with [[Commonwealth realm#Royal family|the Royal Family]] since the late 18th century, but elevated to the status of Chapel Royal in 1904 and 2004, respectively.
[[Image:chapelroyal.jpg|thumb|[[Chapel Royal (Dublin Castle)|The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle]]<br>restored and open to the public]]
[[Image:chapelroyal.jpg|thumb|[[Chapel Royal (Dublin Castle)|The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle]]<br>restored and open to the public]]


⚫
The Chapel Royal refers not to a building but to an establishment in the [[Royal Household]]; a body of priests and singers to explicitly serve the spiritual needs of the sovereign. The term is also, however, applied to those buildings used as chapels by the priests and singers of the Chapel Royal for the performance of their duties. The two currently regularly used British Chapels Royal are located in [[St. James's Palace]] in [[London]]: the Chapel Royal and the Queen's Chapel. Since such establishments are outside the usual diocesan structure, they are classified as [[Royal Peculiar|royal peculiar]]s. Both Scotland and England have distinct [[Dean of the Chapel Royal|Deans of the Chapel Royal]], that of England being held since 1748 by the sitting [[Bishop of London]], while daily control is vested in the Sub-Dean, presently the Rev'd [[Prebendary]] [[William S. Scott]], who is also Domestic Chaplain to the sovereign at [[Buckingham Palace]].
===Establishment===
⚫
The Chapel Royal refers not to a building but to an establishment in the [[Royal Household]]; a body of priests and singers to explicitly serve the spiritual needs of the sovereign. The term is also, however, applied to those buildings used as chapels by the priests and singers of the Chapel Royal for the performance of their duties. The two currently regularly used British Chapels Royal are located in [[St. James's Palace]] in [[London]]: the Chapel Royal and the Queen's Chapel. Since such establishments are outside the usual diocesan structure, they are classified as [[Royal Peculiar|royal peculiar]]s. Both Scotland and England have distinct [[Dean of the Chapel Royal|Deans of the Chapel Royal]], that of England being held since 1748 by the sitting [[Bishop of London]], while daily control is vested in the Sub-Dean, presently the Rev'd [[Prebendary]] [[William S. Scott]], who is also Domestic Chaplain to the sovereign at [[Buckingham Palace]]. The Canadian Chapels Royal are located in and administered by the [[Anglican Diocese of Ontario|Diocese of Ontario]] and the [[Anglican Diocese of Huron|Diocese of Huron]].

⚫
In the United Kingdom, the Chapels Royal are served by a choir, six [[Gentleman#Formal court titles|Gentlemen-in-Ordinary]] and ten Children of the Chapel{{mdash}} all boys{{mdash}} and by a small number of Priests-in-[[Ordinary]] and Deputy Priests-in-Ordinary, appointed to assist the Sub-Dean on an occasional basis. The current organist, choirmaster, and composer of the British Chapel Royal is [[Andrew Gant]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.choralconnections.com/andrew_gant.html| title=Who do we represent? > Andrew Gant| publisher=Choral Connections| accessdate=27 May 2009}}</ref> who is assisted by a sub organist.


⚫
The Chapels Royal are served by a choir, six [[Gentleman#Formal court titles|Gentlemen-in-Ordinary]] and ten Children of the Chapel{{mdash}} all boys{{mdash}} and by a small number of Priests-in-[[Ordinary]] and Deputy Priests-in-Ordinary, appointed to assist the Sub-Dean on an occasional basis. The current organist, choirmaster, and composer of the British Chapel Royal is [[Andrew Gant]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.choralconnections.com/andrew_gant.html| title=Who do we represent? > Andrew Gant| publisher=Choral Connections| accessdate=27 May 2009}}</ref> who is assisted by a sub organist.
===Buildings===
[[File:Christ Church Chapel Royal.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Christ Church Royal Chapel]], one of two Chapels Royal in [[Canada]]]]


====In the United Kingdom====
The Chapel Royal occupies a number of buildings. The main chapel, known as the Chapel Royal, was built circa 1540 and altered since, most notably by Sir [[Robert Smirke (architect)|Robert Smirke]] in 1837, and is located in the main block of St. James's Palace. The large window to the right of the palace gatehouse illuminates this room, which has been used regularly since 1702, and is the most commonly used facility today. Once also part of the St. James's Palace compound, the [[Queen's Chapel]] was built between 1623 and 1625 as a Roman Catholic chapel, at a time when the construction of Catholic churches was prohibited in England, for Queen [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]], wife of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. After the adjacent apartments burnt down in 1809 they were not replaced, and in 1856-57 Marlborough Road was built between the palace and the chapel.
The Chapel Royal occupies a number of buildings. The main chapel, known as the Chapel Royal, was built circa 1540 and altered since, most notably by Sir [[Robert Smirke (architect)|Robert Smirke]] in 1837, and is located in the main block of St. James's Palace. The large window to the right of the palace gatehouse illuminates this room, which has been used regularly since 1702, and is the most commonly used facility today. Once also part of the St. James's Palace compound, the [[Queen's Chapel]] was built between 1623 and 1625 as a Roman Catholic chapel, at a time when the construction of Catholic churches was prohibited in England, for Queen [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]], wife of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. After the adjacent apartments burnt down in 1809 they were not replaced, and in 1856-57 Marlborough Road was built between the palace and the chapel.


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====In Canada====
====In Canada====
See separate articles. <br>
The only Chapels Royal in Canada are:
The only Chapels Royal in Canada are:
* [[Mohawk Chapel]] in Brantford, Ontario
* [[Mohawk Chapel]] in Brantford, Ontario

Revision as of 10:16, 30 July 2011

The Queen's Chapel, one of the two Chapels Royal of St. James's Palace

A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.

Austria

The Royal Court Boys Choir was subsidised by the Royal Private School.
Following the collapse of the monarchy the Choir, part of the Hofkapelle (court musicians), was closed in 1920. In 1924 the Royal Court Choir was reinstated as the Vienna Boys Choir and permanently settled in the Royal Court Chapel. After 1926 to consolidate the financial position of the Vienna Boys Choir the Royal Court Chapel organised a wide range of singing engagements outside their own programme. The Choir remains in world-wide demand to the present day.[1]

Denmark

Choir of the Chapel Royal, Copenhagen.[2]

United Kingdom

The Chapel Royal is a department of the Ecclesiastical Household of the monarch formally known as the royal Free Chapel of the Household. The household is further divided into two parts: an ecclesiastical household each for England and Scotland, belonging to the Church of Scotland and the Church of England, respectively.

Emerging as a distinct body in the late 13th century— dating from 1483 as presently constituted, and first establishing the office of Dean of the Chapel Royal in 1312— the Chapel Royal formerly had no official base, but travelled, like the rest of the court, with the monarch and held services wherever he or she was residing at the time, until James VI commissioned William Schaw to build a new Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle in 1594. The Italianate building was used for the christening of James's son, Prince Henry.[3] In the 17th century the chapel had its own building in Whitehall, which burned down in 1698; since 1702 it has been based at St James's Palace.

The chapel's choir, known as the Children of the Chapel Royal, achieved its greatest eminence during the reign of Elizabeth I, when William Byrd and Thomas Tallis were joint organists. The Master of the Children had, until at least 1684, the power to "press-gang" promising boy trebles from provincial choirs for service in the chapel; until 1626 the boy choristers also acted in productions of plays at court. Because its what singers do, in the 18th century the choristers sang the soprano parts in performances of Handel's oratorios and other works. Under Charles II, the choir was often augmented by violinists from the royal band; at various times the chapel has also employed composers, lutenists and viol players.

The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle
restored and open to the public

The Chapel Royal refers not to a building but to an establishment in the Royal Household; a body of priests and singers to explicitly serve the spiritual needs of the sovereign. The term is also, however, applied to those buildings used as chapels by the priests and singers of the Chapel Royal for the performance of their duties. The two currently regularly used British Chapels Royal are located in St. James's Palace in London: the Chapel Royal and the Queen's Chapel. Since such establishments are outside the usual diocesan structure, they are classified as royal peculiars. Both Scotland and England have distinct Deans of the Chapel Royal, that of England being held since 1748 by the sitting Bishop of London, while daily control is vested in the Sub-Dean, presently the Rev'd Prebendary William S. Scott, who is also Domestic Chaplain to the sovereign at Buckingham Palace.

The Chapels Royal are served by a choir, six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary and ten Children of the Chapel— all boys— and by a small number of Priests-in-Ordinary and Deputy Priests-in-Ordinary, appointed to assist the Sub-Dean on an occasional basis. The current organist, choirmaster, and composer of the British Chapel Royal is Andrew Gant,[4] who is assisted by a sub organist.

The Chapel Royal occupies a number of buildings. The main chapel, known as the Chapel Royal, was built circa 1540 and altered since, most notably by Sir Robert Smirke in 1837, and is located in the main block of St. James's Palace. The large window to the right of the palace gatehouse illuminates this room, which has been used regularly since 1702, and is the most commonly used facility today. Once also part of the St. James's Palace compound, the Queen's Chapel was built between 1623 and 1625 as a Roman Catholic chapel, at a time when the construction of Catholic churches was prohibited in England, for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. After the adjacent apartments burnt down in 1809 they were not replaced, and in 1856-57 Marlborough Road was built between the palace and the chapel.

There are additional Chapels Royal in Hampton Court Palace, and at the Chapels of St. John the Evangelist and St. Peter ad Vincula, both in the Tower of London. All are cared for by their own chaplains and choirs. Brighton was once home to a Chapel Royal, though it is now a chapel of ease to the city's parish church, the Church of St. Peter,[5] and one existed at Dublin Castle prior to Ireland's adoption of a republican status.

In Canada

See separate articles.
The only Chapels Royal in Canada are:

France

Versailles' chapel as seen from the tribune royale, where the king and members of the royal family heard mass
Main article: Chapelle royale

The musical establishment attached to the royal chapel of the French kings, the Chapel Royal was founded in the time of the Merovingian kings and reached its zenith under the Old Regime. Under the direction of a clergyman, the Master of the Chapel, the staff included undermasters in charge of rehearsals and the composition of royal masses, an organist, cornetists and around thirty singers and choristers, as well as masters who taught music to the children.

The establishment grew during the reign of Louis XIV to include castrati and women, and the many instruments needed to perform motets. By the death of King Louis XIV, in 1715, the Chapel Royal had a total of 110 singers (sopranos, castrati, haute-contres, tenors, baritones and bass) and 20 instrumentalists (violin and viola, bass violin, theorbo, flute, oboe, bass cromorne, serpent and bassoon)
Chapelle du château de Versailles

Spain

There are several chapels in Spain designated by the sovereign as chapels royal (Spanish: Capilla Real), including the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Royal Chapel of Granada. Formerly, the Flemish chapel was used separately by the Spanish kings and queens (who also ruled parts of the Low Countries in the 16th century) through the reigns of Charles V, Philip II, Philip III, and Philip IV, until 1637,[6] when it was merged into the capilla real española.

Sweden

The Royal Chapel,Stockholm.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Austria
  2. ^ Denmark
  3. ^ Glendinning, Miles (2004). Scottish Architecture. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 61. ISBN 978-0500203743. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Who do we represent? > Andrew Gant". Choral Connections. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  5. ^ Dale, Antony. Brighton Churches. London: Routledge. p. 29. ISBN 0-415-00863-8.
  6. ^ Ruiz-Jiménez, Juan (2001). "The Mid-Sixteenth-Century Franco-Flemish Chanson in Spain. The Evidence of Ms. 975 of the Manuel de Falla Library". Tijdschrift van de Koninklijke Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis. 51 (1). Koninklijke Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis: 25. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  7. ^ Sweden
  • "London (i), §II, 1: Music at court: The Chapel Royal", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 16 September 2004), Grovemusic.com
  • The Buildings of England, London 6: Westminster (2003) page 587.
  • "Blow, John." Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 13 December 2006), Grovemusic.com
  • "Purcell." Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 13 December 2006), Grovemusic.com
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