Face the Music
A guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery in song, symphony and swing.
Small Group guaranteed – 10 persons max (this walk is not suitable for children)
The National Portrait Gallery presents the story of our nation in a vividly curated pageant of faces. But what is the soundtrack to this pageant?
From Tudor times to the 20th century, this new London Walks tour goes off in search of music in the history of Britain… often finding it in unlikely places.
Along the way we will ask…
Was King Henry VIII really a songwriter of note?
Did Cromwell really abolish all music?
What role did xenophobia and money play in the birth of the stage musical?
Why did Handel end up in London?
How did Black blues and jazz wash up on the banks of the river Thames in suburban West London?
Side One
We’ll consider the importance of music to the image conscious Tudors, and bust a myth about Kjng Henry VIII’s songwriting chops. The flowering of creativity that is the Restoration period will certainly give us something to sing about, followed by a period of theatrical stagnation in the 1720s… to which music will prove the antidote. Side one ends in the 19th Century as it began in the 16th – looking for music in the royal household.
Side Two
In the maelstrom of the 20th Century gallery, we look at the roles of technology and war in the dissemination of music. The tour will end up in the ever-changing late 20th century gallery for a greatest hits finale. And who will feature in this part of the tour? Well, the kaleidoscopic nature of the collection in this section of the exhibition means that the tour will be different every time. Just like an evening of great live music where no two performances can be identical.
(This gallery tour makes an excellent companion piece to Adam’s Musical Statues walking tour)
Jonathan Dawes –
Great fun! Informative, lively and funny. I’ll never look at George II again and not see Brian May, and who would have thought that Henry VIII was such a sonic-architect (with scaffold plank shoulders). Thank you – a fantastic tour in the great in-doors.
Alex Thomson –
A fantastic walk through the National Portrait Gallery. Adam is a brilliant guide who really brings each picture to life. Music is the theme that ties each picture stop together. Adam has a rare talent of imparting his knowledge in a witty and engaging manner so you don’t even realise that you’re learning on the way. I loved hearing the stories but also enjoyed having the time to really consider the paintings I was standing in front of. The time passed by in a flash and I was left with lots of ideas to ponder and a fantastic playlist to enjoy. I thoroughly recommend this tour.
Gavin Rodgers –
Wonderful stroll through the National Portrait Gallery with Adam. Not the most obvious place to talk about the history of music but Adam found some great links and stories to impart with us starting with Henry VIII and finishing with The Smiths. A Really enjoyable 2 hours.
Debbie Chazen –
We are big fans of Adam’s walks. BIG. And this new one did not disappoint – in fact, it thrilled! Cleverly put together, fascinating, educational and funny with a bit at the end that was truly impressive (sorry, no spoilers!) Couldn’t recommend all of Adam’s walks, and especially this one, more!
Anne Deering –
What an interesting and thought provoking tour! Great insights on music through the ages using a wide range of portraits of key historic figures. Adam’s knowledge is truly encyclopedic and he builds interest and energy throughout the tour. Loved it – highly recommend
Michael Korel –
This was such a fascinating saunter through the great National Portrait Gallery. Adam is a wonderful guide who really brings to life the story of how music has permeated our history. He manages to combine wit, warmth and knowledge – two hours was over in a flash!
Angus Deuchar –
Great tour which brings to life how music has evolved in the UK from Tudor times onwards. Adam’s knowledge of the subject and what was going on around it is immense. His delivery is clear and conversational. He gives just the right amount of detail to keep you engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Highly recommended.
Deborah Sims –
Excellent tour of the National Portrait Gallery with a focus on music and musicians. Brilliant to spend time with a selection of relevant portraits and hear Adam’s insights. Playlists were really helpful and brought the characters to life.