Trumpet Voluntary

Album: Classical Tribute to Diana (1699)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707) was an English Baroque composer, who is best remembered for this popular keyboard piece. Commonly known as the "Trumpet Voluntary," its proper title is the "Prince of Denmark's March." For many years this piece was misattributed to Clarke's contemporary Henry Purcell but it has now been reclaimed by Clarke.
  • Jeremiah Clarke died tragically young, "A violent and hopeless passion for a very beautiful lady of a rank superior to his own" causing him to commit suicide.
  • The march is very popular as wedding music, most famously in the widely televised 1981 wedding of Lady Diana to Prince Charles in 1981.
  • A brief portion of the tune can be heard at the end of the Chumbawamba song "Tubthumping" and it also features in the fade-out of The Beatles' track "it's All Too Much."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.