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The Court of Mary, Queen of Scots

David McGuinness visits Stirling Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House to learn about music which may have been written and performed during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.

David McGuinness visits Stirling Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh, to trace the story of Mary Queen of Scots' reign, and the music which surrounded her. From the devotional masses and motets by Robert Carver - so popular with Mary's father, King James V, to the jolly French dances she would have enjoyed during her first marriage to Francis Dauphin of France, Mary remained a music lover throughout her short life. Queen Mary's favourite attendant and confidante during her second marriage to her cousin, Lord Henry Darnley, was an Italian musician called David Rizzio. Darnley and David Rizzio spent long hours together on the tennis court at Falkland Palace, but Darnley's jealousy grew at the Italian's familiarity with his new wife, and he planned to do away with Rizzio at the earliest opportunity. The political assassination that followed was carefully staged, with 500 armed men keeping the Palace of Holyrood House secure while Lord Ruthven and his accomplices burst in to Mary's chamber, where she and Rizzio were sharing supper with guests. Rizzio was dragged from the dinner table and stabbed more than 50 times in front of the Queen.

58 minutes

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Music Played

  • Monty Python

    Mary Queen of Scots

    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • CDV 2748.

  • Robert Carver

    Mass 脿 3 (Kyrie)

    Performers: Rob MacKillop (lute), Bill Taylor (bray harp)

    • DORIAN.
    • DIS-80141.

  • Anon.

    Mary Betons Row/Current Tried (from Rowallan Lute Book)

    Performer: Ronn MacFarlane (10-course lute)

    • DORIAN.
    • DOR 90257.

  • David Peebles

    Psalm 107

    Performers: Cappella Nova, Alan Tavener (conductor)

    • ASV.
    • CDGAU 136.

  • James Lauder

    My Lord of March Paven

    Performers: Concerto Caledonia

    • (live recording not available commercially).

  • David Peebles

    Si Quis Diligit Me

    Performers: Cappella Nova, Alan Tavener (conductor)

    • ASV.
    • CDGAU136.

  • Pierre Cad茅ac

    Our Father God Celestial

    Performers: Baltimore Consort

    • DORIAN.
    • DOR-90139.

  • William Kinloch

    Kinloche his Fantassie

    Performer: John Kitchen (harpsichord)

    • ASV.
    • CD GAU134.

  • Anon.

    Richt soir opprest [from The Art of Music c.1580]

    Performers: Custer LaRue (voice), Mark Cudek & Ronn MacFarlane (lutes)

    • DORIAN.
    • DOR-90314.

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