Community Chat

[golding76]

(from MSN.com)

According to the order of service, ahead of the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey Matthew Jorysz, the Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey, will play:

• Fantasia of four parts, Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623-25
• Romanza (Symphony no 5 in D), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) arranged by Robert Quinney (b 1976)
• Reliqui domum meum, Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016)
• Meditation on ‘Brother James’s Air’, Harold Darke (1888-1976)
• Prelude on ‘Ecce jam noctis’ Op 157 no 3, Healey Willan (1880-1968)
• Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 2, Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• In the Country Op 194 no 2, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
• Fantasy on ‘O Paradise’, Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003)
• Elegy Op 58, Edward Elgar (1857-1934) arranged by Matthew Jorysz (b 1992)

The Sub-Organist Peter Holder will play:

• Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28), Edward Elgar
• Sospiri Op 70, Edward Elgar arranged by Peter Holder (b 1990)

Before the service, the abbey’s tenor bell will be tolled every minute for 96 minutes, reflecting the years of the Queen’s life.

The service is being sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, under the direction of James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey, while Mr Holder will play the organ.

One of the hymns featured in the service – “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” – was sung at the Queen’s wedding, when she married the Duke of Edinburgh in the same location, as a 21-year-old bride in 1947.

It was also sung at the funeral of the Queen’s father George VI in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1952, but with slightly different wording.

The rest of the hymns included in the ceremony will be: “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended”; and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”.

The latter has often featured at royal weddings including William and Kate’s, Charles and Camilla’s wedding blessing, and Princess Eugenie’s.

At the end of the service, following “The Last Post”, two minutes’ silence, the “Reveille”, and the national anthem “God Save the King”, the Queen’s Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, will play the traditional lament “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep”.

What music features at the Queen’s committal service?

Before the committal service at St George’s Chapel the organ will be played by the Organ Scholar, Miriam Reveley, before the Assistant Director of Music, Luke Bond, plays:

• Schmucke dich, O liebe Seele (BWV 654), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
• OTraurigkeit, O Herzeleid Dame, Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
• Master Tallis’s Testament, Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Psalm Prelude Set 1,No. 1, Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Psalm Prelude Set 1,No. 2, Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Melody (Three Pieces), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)
• Andante Sostenuto (Symphonie Gothique, Op. 70), Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
• The Tree of Peace, Judith Weir (b. 1954)
• Nimrod (Variations On An Original Theme, Op.36), Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) arranged by SirWilliam H. Harris
• Prelude, Sir William H. Harris (1883-1973)
• Sheep May Safely Graze (BWV 208), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) arranged by Stainton de B.Taylor
• Rhosymedre, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

During the Service the Choir of St George’s Chapel will be conducted by James Vivian, Director of Music and the organ will be played by Mr Bond.

The Queen’s committal service features several pieces of music that were also heard at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April last year and other major royal events.

JS Bach’s “Schmucke Dich, O Liebe Seele” – “Adorn Yourself, O Dear Soul” – (BWV 654) starts the selection of organ pieces being played as the mourners wait for the service to begin.

Another is Vaughan Williams’ “Rhosymedre”, a firm favourite with the royal family with the music being performed at the wedding of Diana, Princess of Wales and Charles, and at Philip’s funeral.

The hymns being sung in the service are “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” by Henry Purcell, and “All My Hope on God is Founded”, adapted into English by German by Herbert Howells.

“Nimrod” by Sir Edward Elgar was heard at the Queen’s coronation in 1953, and will also be played before the committal begins.

The service will end with “Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 546)” which will be played after “God Save the King”

[meallen616]

Rest in peace,

[Witchy Woman]

@golding76 

I cannot claim to be familiar with any of this music, but I am amazed at the complexity of it all.  

The voices were angelic. 

Thanks for posting.

[10sluvr]

i think you had to be there to appreciate it. It all sounded the same to me. I couldn't understand the words, to the songs. The organ music all sound the same. The only part i liked was the bagpipes. Some things just don't televised well.

[Sooner]

I feel very fortunate to have been able to see this cortage and the main service, and look forward to events at Windsor.

All of the choirs, the troops and the messages were so personal and meaningful. I was so moved by it all, and admire all involved for putting forth such effort and making the service so beautiful.

[jubilant]

I wanted to see the funeral so I was up in time to see it.  I found it very inspirational. I pray  that people will see where it was that Queen Elizabeth received  her inspiration and guidance from and how it guided her through-out her life and reign.  I believe it brought her through many difficult times only to land firmly on her feet and just "get on with it".... a phrase she apparently used quite often.