composer
William Knight started his musical career as a chorister of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. He read Music at the University of York whilst singing as the Tenor Choral Scholar at ...
related works
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Instruments:
GK4 2cornetto 3sackbut-ten sackbut-b org vln-b
Impressions of a Pilgrimage : for mixed choir and small orchestra / Dick Le Mair
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Instruments:
GK4 3fl 3cl sax-s perc g g-b pf org str
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Instruments:
GK4 trp-p
Sonnet : for mixed choir, clarinet in B flat, marimba and harp / Ángel Arranz
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Instruments:
GK4 cl mar hp
composition
The Two Princes in the Tower : for large choir and ensemble / William Knight; texts by William Shakespeare; Anonymous; William Knight
Other authors:
Shakespeare, William
(librettist)
Description:
'Guardian' has a double meaning. It directly refers to Richard III as Lord Protector of the two princes Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. However, it also refers to God, specifically for Edward who is praying to God to absolve his sins as he waits for death. The Dies Irae chant is Edward's prayer to God to absolve his own sins as well as condemning Richard III for his.
'Lully lu lily lily lily' is a play on words of the beginning of the Coventry Carol. This idea comes from an Old Wives Tail where a Lily and a Rose is offered to a woman who is expecting a child. The one she chooses will determine the sex (Male for Lily, Female for
Rose). The Lily is a prominent symbol for masculinity and also for Christ (as is the Rose - with its 5 petals representing the 5 wounds of Christ). This is why the Lily suffers for us and for our sins. Also, the Rose represents the House of York (Richard III), and the lilies the Two Princes.
The Coventry Carol is a mirror image to the Two Princes in the Tower story, which is why it is presented as a Chorale at the end of the piece.