The office of Master of The Queen's Music is the musical equivalent of Poet Laureate. It is an honour conferred on a musician of great distinction.

Since the reign of King George V, the position has had no fixed duties, although the Master may choose to produce compositions to mark Royal or State occasions if he or she wishes to do so.

The Master of The Queen's Music is paid an honorary stipend for his work.

The current Master of The Queen's Music is Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who was appointed in March 2004.

On the appointment of Sir Peter, the term of the position was changed from life tenure to ten years, giving more composers the opportunity to take up this honorary position.

Since his appointment, Sir Peter has composed a Christmas carol for The Queen which was recorded by the Chapels Royal, as well as a work to accompany the Poet Laureate's poem to mark The Queen's 80th birthday in 2006.

He has also been greatly involved in the creation of The Queen's Medal for Music in 2005, which will reward individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community at large, though music.

The post of Master of The King or Queen's Music has a long history. Kings and queens dating back to the Middle Ages and earlier would employ a band of musicians as part of their households.

Records show that Edward IV had 13 minstrels, 'whereof some be trumpets, some with shalmes and small pypes,' whilst Henry VIII's band in 1526 consisted of '15 trumpets, 3 lutes, 3 rebecks, 3 tamborets, a harp, 2 viols, 9 sackbuts, a fife and four drumslades'.

The number of musicians in the Sovereign's band grew over time and became known as 'the Musick'.

The office of Master of the King's Musick was first created in the reign of Charles I when Nicholas Lanier was appointed in 1626.

From this time onwards there were Masters of the King's or Queen's Musick who were responsible for the band of Royal musicians. These bands were Court musicians, playing at meals for the Sovereign and the Court's entertainment.

During the reign of James II in the late seventeenth century, the role of the Musick became more important. In addition to its ordinary duties, it was employed, together with the gentlemen and children of the Chapel Royal, in the performance of the odes annually composed for the King's birthday and New Year's Day.

These odes were composed by the Master himself. Between 1674 and 1700, Nicholas Staggins composed several Royal birthday odes as Master.

The production of such odes did not last long, however, and soon the Master's duties were reduced to attendance at Royal Weddings and baptisms, and other State occasions.

The Musick continued in this way through to the end of the reign of Queen Victoria, and the role of the Musick and the Master gradually diminished in importance and profile. By the time of King Edward VII in the early part of the twentieth century, the band no longer performed any concerts at all, though the musicians sometimes played at Court functions.

Under King George V, the number of musicians with Court appointments dwindled and the position of Master of the King's Musick eventually became an honorary one.

Sir Edward Elgar was greatly influential in shaping the role of Master when he served under King George V. He was appointed as Master of the King's Music in 1924 (the 'k' of 'Musick' was finally dropped during Elgar's service).

His compositions included 'The Nursery Suite' for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in 1931.

The Queen's Coronation in 1953 saw musical compositions from two Masters. Sir Arnold Bax (Master from 1942-53), had the honour of composing the Coronation March for The Queen, whilst Sir Arthur Bliss (Master from1953-75) wrote a Processional for the Coronation.

For The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, Malcolm Williamson, one of the longest serving Masters (from 1975 - 2003) composed Mass of Christ the King and set to music a hymn written by the Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, for the occasion. In 1985 he composed Songs for a Royal Baby in honour of the birth of Prince Henry of Wales.

Masters of the King or Queen's Music in the past 100 years

Walter Parratt (1893-1924)
Edward Elgar (1924-34)
Walford Davies (1934-41)
Arnold Bax (1942-53)
Arthur Bliss (1953-75)
Malcolm Williamson (1975-2003)
Peter Maxwell Davies (2004-present)