Today marks the 63rd anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II‘s coronation. Within the past year, she became the longest reigning queen in recorded history.

The coronation ceremony was quite an ordeal, to say the least, taking 16 months to plan. One of the many pieces composed for the occasion was the “Orb & Sceptre” march by William Walton.

Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

It’s only natural that humans compare their lives to the world around them – the birth (or rebirth) of life at spring, the fruits of summer, the autumnal decline, the unforgiving winter.

Composer Thomas Morley lived during England’s Elizabethan golden age and is best known for the secular Madrigals – choral pieces related to the polyphonic sacred music of the time, but with texts about love, death, and everything in between. Morley was probably friends with Shakespeare, and is one of only two composers whose music was used in Shakespeare‘s productions while the great poet was alive.

His short madrigal, “April is in my Mistress’ Face” compares his lover to … er … certain months of the year.

Ouch.