By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY
When Prince William and Kate Middleton walk down the aisle this Friday, they'll be serenaded by the choir of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal Choir. The London Chamber Orchestra also will be on hand, along with a fanfare team from the Royal Air Force band.
JMEnternational, Redferns
Meet the maestro: Christopher Warren-Green, who leads orchestras on both sides of the Atlantic, is in charge of the royal wedding's music.
JMEnternational, Redferns
Meet the maestro: Christopher Warren-Green, who leads orchestras on both sides of the Atlantic, is in charge of the royal wedding's music.
Royal watchers and music fans may be wondering what hymns, choral works and newly commissioned pieces will be performed. Christopher Warren-Green, music director and conductor of the London Chamber Orchestra, says they'll just have to stay tuned.
"All I can tell you is that the music will be extremely beautiful, and fitting," Warren-Green says. "Bear in mind that this will be a church service, a very serious time as well as a happy one. And the music that has been chosen will suit the occasion."
Having been "musically acquainted" with the groom's father, Prince Charles, for 30 years, Warren-Green ? also director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina ? has helped oversee a number of royal events. He was involved in Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, as well as Charles' 60th and Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday celebrations.
Warren-Green confirms that the Prince of Wales "had a big hand" in choosing the musical menu for his son's wedding, but he adds that William and his bride-to-be were hardly passive observers.
"William asked his father to help," Warren-Green says. "But the couple was very firm about what they wanted, and I was of course keen to get it for them. I think Catherine also asked her parents what they thought."
Veteran music critic J.D. Considine, a contributor to The Globe and Mailin the commonwealth nation of Canada, expects that their decisions won't raise any eyebrows.
"The main thing people should not expect is surprises," Considine says. "The royals, and William's father in particular, are culturally conservative, so the music should be very traditional and very English."
Considine predicts the entries may include composer Hubert Parry's Jerusalem, adapted from a William Blake poem. "It's probably the most famous Anglican hymn, and about the glory of Britain. John Rutter is the foremost Anglican choral composer of the contemporary era, so I assume he's been commissioned to write something. Likewise John Tavener. And I'd be surprised if there wasn't a lot of old Anglican music ?Handel, William Byrd, Henry Purcell, things of that ilk."
Laura Trevelyan, a BBC correspondent based in New York, is particularly interested in the extent to which the choices will mirror those "at William's parents' wedding. Diana personally chose the hymn I Vow to Thee My Country, which was also played at her funeral. William has talked about his mother, and he gave Kate her ring, so that hymn would have a lot of resonance."
Warren-Green will say only that the young couple have "very, very good taste" ? and that he and his musicians are ready for their close-ups.
"The fact that there will be 2 billion people watching doesn't really make this any different for me," the conductor says. "Any royal occasion is very special, and music is just as important wherever you play it.
"And we have fabulous players ? London's finest."
Christina DaRe Rachel Hunter Kate Groombridge Tila Tequila Kate Bosworth
