Jeremy Pound traces the history and uses of the ode, a key musical form found originally in Greek poetry, and later used to serenade kings and queens <\/p>
Past Coronations have featured them, and the Coronation of King Charles and his Queen Consort Camilla may include one or more examples. So what exactly is an ode, and how did the form develop?<\/p>\n
Odes were originally a type of Ancient Greek poetry. Using declamatory language, they largely praised a person or event and would often be either sung or recited with a musical accompaniment. Famous examples from the ancient world are those of the Greek poet Pindar (c520-c440 BC) and, in Latin, Horace (65-8 BC).<\/p>\n
Towards the second half of the 17th-century, musical odes were commissioned and composed to celebrate important events or people \u2013 these could be related to the royalty or nobility, but could also mark academic occasions or notable feast days, for instance. One of the duties of the Master of the King\u2019s\/Queen\u2019s Music<\/strong><\/a> was to write odes for major ceremonial occasions.<\/p>\n Purcell<\/strong><\/a> wrote 24 royal odes from 1680 onwards. Of these, four celebrate St Cecilia<\/strong><\/a>, patron saint of music. Among the others, six welcome royalty; three celebrate James II\u2019s birthday; six mark the birthday of Mary II; and the remaining five are in honour of other state occasions.<\/p>\nWhat are some famous odes from the late 17th century?<\/h3>\n