Artist: Debbie Wiseman, Helen Mirren, Damian Lewis
Album: The Music Of Kings & Queens
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2021
Audio Format:: FLAC (tracks) 24 bit, 96 kHz
Duration: 01:06:28
Total Tracks: 26
Total Size: 1,05 GB

Tracklist:

01. Debbie Wiseman – Elizabeth II – Fanfare (00:34)
02. Helen Mirren – Introduction by Helen Mirren (00:54)
03. Damian Lewis – William I – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:12)
04. Debbie Wiseman – William I (03:54)
05. Helen Mirren – Richard I – Introduction by Helen Mirren (01:49)
06. Debbie Wiseman – Richard I (03:15)
07. Damian Lewis – Henry VIII – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:40)
08. Debbie Wiseman – Henry VIII (03:05)
09. Helen Mirren – Elizabeth I – Introduction by Helen Mirren (01:44)
10. Debbie Wiseman – Elizabeth I (04:21)
11. Damian Lewis – Charles II – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:25)
12. Debbie Wiseman – Charles II (04:00)
13. Helen Mirren – Anne – Introduction by Helen Mirren (01:27)
14. Debbie Wiseman – Anne (04:41)
15. Damian Lewis – George II – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:14)
16. Debbie Wiseman – George II (03:30)
17. Damian Lewis – George III – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:33)
18. Debbie Wiseman – George III (04:21)
19. Helen Mirren – Victoria – Introduction by Helen Mirren (01:49)
20. Debbie Wiseman – Victoria (02:58)
21. Helen Mirren – Edward VII – Introduction by Helen Mirren (02:15)
22. Debbie Wiseman – Edward VII (03:50)
23. Damian Lewis – George VI – Introduction by Damian Lewis (01:41)
24. Debbie Wiseman – George VI (03:23)
25. Helen Mirren – Elizabeth II – Introduction by Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis (02:03)
26. Debbie Wiseman – Elizabeth II (03:40)

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The Music of Kings & Queens was released in 2021 to mark the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, honored with both a fanfare at the beginning and a place in the cavalcade of English monarchs at the end. The list dates back to William I, William the Conqueror, and each monarch gets a spoken introduction, alternating between Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis, together with a short musical selection by composer Debbie Wiseman. It would be too much to call these portraits, for they relate only in the most general way to the personalities of the kings and queens involved. Wiseman is a film and television composer, and the music is meant to evoke the monarchy in a general way. This it does quite successfully and without mawkishness, and the commercial success of this album among a British public always willing to soak up celebrations of the monarchs is no surprise. The texts are by Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD VR, a military officer best known as an organizer of equestrian events. They contain a corker of a dangling modifier (“Brought up in as normal an environment as was possible for a member of the royal family, dogs and ponies featured heavily in her life …”) but could serve as an instant refresher in some highlights of English history. One might note that the National Symphony Orchestra that furnishes the accompaniment is not the Washington-based group but a London orchestra specializing in musical theater. An album that will be heard throughout Elizabeth’s 95th year and beyond. – James Manheim