Classic FM joins The Sixteen for a choral tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, live from the Tower of London
5 October 2022, 10:18 | Updated: 11 October 2022, 18:58
A Tribute to the Life and Reign of Elizabeth II: A Garland for the Queen.Live from the Tower of London, a special choral tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. At this momentous time in the history of the monarchy, we join the Voices of Classic FM, The Sixteen for ‘A Tribute to the Life and Reign of Elizabeth II: A Garland for the Queen’. The Sixteen are singing in the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula, in the Tower of London, with music reflecting the life and times of both Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II, with thanks to the Genesis Foundation.
Posted by Classic FM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Watch ‘A Tribute to the Life and Reign of Elizabeth II: A Garland for the Queen’ on 11 October on our Facebook page, live from one of London’s most historic locations.
This autumn, Classic FM joins one of the world’s finest choral ensembles for a very special concert in tribute Elizabeth II’s long life and illustrious reign, in a place of exceptional royal heritage.
On 11 October 2022, The Voices of Classic FM, The Sixteen will sing a concert at the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula, in the Tower of London. With the Genesis Foundation, the choir presents A Garland for the Queen, an hour-long choral concert by The Sixteen, conceived and conducted by the group’s founder Harry Christophers.
Just weeks after the world stilled for the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, The Sixteen wanted to share this musical tribute to Her Majesty far and wide.
A Tribute to Elizabeth II: Tower of London concert | Genesis Foundation
The choir has partnered with Classic FM to stream the concert, live to our five million Facebook followers. Previous live streams from The Sixteen and Genesis Foundation have included concerts from The Sistine Chapel in The Vatican, and from London’s historic Farm Street Church.
The evening’s music will span the centuries, including the world premiere of a new Genesis Foundation commission by British composer Cecilia McDowall.
Thomas Morley: Hard by a crystal fountain
Thomas Tallis: O sacrum convivium
William Byrd: O lux beata Trinitas
Sir Michael Tippett: Dance, Clarion Air
William Byrd: O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth
Charles Villiers Stanford: The Blue Bird
Benjamin Britten: Gloriana Dances for tenor, harp and choir
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Silence and Music
Cecilia McDowall: O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth
Richard Rodney Bennett: These Three
Thomas Tallis / William Byrd: Miserere nostri
William Byrd: This sweet and merry month of May
Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending
Read more: The Sixteen choir give inspiring at-home performance of Sheppard’s ‘Libera Nos’
Parry: Lord, let me know mine end
The ‘choral crown jewels’ that form A Garland for the Queen range from the 16th to the 21st century. The programme is built around selections from books of choral music assembled for both Elizabeth I and the great Monarch of our age, Elizabeth II.
Alongside works by Tallis, Byrd and Britten, the concert will include the world premiere of a work commissioned by the Genesis Foundation (its 30th commission of contemporary sacred choral music) – ‘O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth’ by Cecilia McDowall.
On the programme and special location, Harry Christophers says: “Reflecting on Elizabeth II’s long life and illustrious reign, we could think of no better way to pay her homage than to craft a programme that sets music written in her honour beside works composed for the first Queen Elizabeth.
“This concert will take place in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, a sacred space in the heart of the historical Tower of London, which in itself holds a unique position in this celebration, being one of very few places of worship under direct jurisdiction of a Monarch.”
