The First Masters of The King's Musick
The first appointed Master of the King's Musick would be the only one seriously to attempt to rule all of the musicians in the kingdom as a guild. This was Nicholas Lanier, for whom the title was created in 1626 by Charles I of England as Master of the King's Musick (the k after Music was dropped only during Edward Elgar's appointment). At that time the holder of the post took charge of the monarch's private band, a responsibility which continued until the band was dissolved in 1901.
The Master received an emolument. At the time of George III it was £200 a year for leading the band and composing birthday odes. If minuets were composed for court dances, an additional £100 was added. Additional payments were made for any music copying done for the court.
Two of the early Masters, Louis Grabu and Nicholas Staggins, were more courtiers than musicians, and composers such as Henry Purcell were called on for the music such as Purcell's 'Welcome Song to His Majesty at His Return from Newmarket' (1682). During the reign of composer John Eccles as Master of the King's Musick, George Frideric Handel supplied the Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (1713).
Read more about this topic: Master Of The Queen's Music
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