Concert archive

This concert features 400 years of music written for and performed at the great royal occasions – coronations, weddings and funerals. Works of grandeur, grace, solemnity and celebration, they neatly mirror the history of both the country and the family they honour.

We are delighted to be joined by the three musicians – Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), David Blackadder (trumpet) and Luke Bond (organ) – who so memorably performed Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine as Meghan Markle walked down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle to be married to Prince Harry. Alongside this work, we will perform music by Weelkes, Brahms, Elgar, Parry and Rutter.

Elin Manahan Thomas released her début album Eternal Light in 2007 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has since performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals, and with leading orchestras and conductors.

David Blackadder is recognised as one of the world’s leading period trumpeters. His expertise has taken him around the globe and continues to do so, as he collaborates with some of the most exciting figures in classical music.

Luke Bond is the Assistant Director of Music of St George’s Chapel following appointments at Clifton College, The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick and eight years as Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral.

English trad. arr. Elizabeth Poston The Boar’s Head Carol
Welsh trad. arr. Keith Roberts Deck the Halls
Betty Roe The Holly & the Ivy
German trad. arr. John Rutter O Tannenbaum
Benjamin Britten A Shepherd’s Carol
Nicholas Bannan Twas the Night before Christmas
English trad. arr. Bob Chilcott The Twelve Days of Christmas
J. Pierpont arr. David Willcocks Jingle Bells
Gustav Holst Bring us in good ale
English trad. arr. R. Vaughan Williams Wassail Song
English trad. arr. William Whitehead Here we go-a wassailing
Arthur Sullivan The last night of the year
Gustav Holst arr. Richard Bannan In the Bleak Midwinter
American trad. arr. Michael Higgins Away in a Manger
Various arr. Richard Bannan American Christmas Medley
Trad. arr. Berty Rice Auld Lang Syne

Organ Andrew Wells
Musical Director Richard Bannan

Elgar Light of the World
Rachmaninoff Svete tikhi
Brahms Warum ist das Licht gegeben
J. S. Bach O Jesu Christ Meins Lebens Licht
Rutter Hymn to the Creator of Light
Whitacre Lux Aurumque
Charles Wood Hail! Gladdening Light
Kerry Andrew O lux Beata Trinitas
Holst Light leaves whisper
Amy Beach Through the house give glimmering light
Pearsall Light of my Soul
Elgar Light out of darkness
George Harrison arr. Richard Bannan Here comes the sun
 Duke Ellington arr. Berty Rice I’m beginning to see the light
arr. Richard Bannan This little light of mine

Organ Andrew Wells
Musical Director Richard Bannan

Heinrich Schütz Selig sind die Toten
J. S. Bach O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht
Fanny Mendelssohn from Fünf Lieder (Op. 10): Nach Süden, Vorwurf, and Bergeslust
Clara Schumann Two Lieder: Liebst du um Schönheit (Op. 12, No. 4) and Ich stand in dunklen Träumen (Op. 13, No. 1)
Johannes Brahms Geistliches Lied

Johannes Brahms Ein Deutsches  Requiem

Soprano Miriam Allan
Baritone Marcus Farnsworth
Keyboard Libby Burgess
Keyboard Will Vann
Musical Director Richard Bannan
 

J. S. Bach Jauchzet, frohlocket
J. P. Sweelinck Hodie Christus natus est
Mendelssohn Weihnachten
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Good day, Sir Christemas
arr. Willcocks Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
Hieronymum Praetorius In dulci jubilo
Michael Praetorius Puer natus in Bethlehem
Michael Hayden Viderunt Omnes
Poulenc Hodie Christus natus est
Cecilia McDowall Gaude et Laetare
C Hubert H Parry Welcome Yule
Bruckner Virga Jesse
arr. Rutter I saw three ships
Holst Christmas Day

Organ Luke Bond
Musical Director Richard Bannan

Franz Joseph Haydn Te Deum
John Rutter O be joyful in the Lord
C. V. Stanford Magnificat in B♭ for Double Choir
C. Hubert H. Parry Songs of Farewell
Gustav Holst Nunc Dimittis
C. Hubert H. Parry I was glad when they said unto me

Organ Andrew Wells
Musical director Richard Bannan

Performing at Evensong, Mattins and Eucharist services

The music of Thomas Tallis

Sancte Deus
God grant we grace
Audivi vocem de caelo
Gloria from Mass for four voices
Euge caeli porta (performed by The Marian Consort)
Blessed are those that be undefiled (performed by The Marian Consort)
If ye love me
Hear the voice and prayer
Magnificat from the short ‘Dorian’ Service
Gaude gloriosa Dei Mater (performed with The Marian Consort)
Loquebantur variis linguis
Jesu salvator saeculi
Videte Miraculum (performed by The Marian Consort)
Suscipe quaeso Domine (performed by The Marian Consort)
O sacrum convivium
In ieiunio et fletu
Miserere nostri Domine (performed with The Marian Consort)

Guest ensemble The Marian Consort (directed by Rory McCleery)
Musical Director Richard Bannan

J.S. Bach arr. Richard Bannan Comfort, Comfort ye My People
Michael Wise Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
William Byrd Ecce Virgo Concipiet
G.P. da Palestrina Surge, Illuminare, Jerusalem
John Tavener God is With Us
Gerald Finzi In Terra Pax
Claudio Monteverdi Exulta Filia Sion
Edward Naylor Vox Dicentis: Clama
Lowell Mason arr. John Rutter Joy to the World
arr. David Willcocks Sussex Carol
Peter Cornelius The Three Kings
Peter Warlock Balulalow
John Rutter Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
Adolphe Adams arr. Dudley Buck, adapted Richard Bannan O Holy Night

Soprano Philippa Boyle
Baritone Robert Davies
Organ Andrew Wells
Musical Director Richard Bannan