St Paul’s Cathedral invited children across the country to offer a music gift to Her Majesty The Queen in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee. The ‘Choir for the Queen’ brought together 11,956 children from 114 schools, from Birmingham to Burnley, and Cambridge to Cumbria.
The children learned one of three royal pieces – ‘Vivat Regina Elizabetha’ from CHH Parry, I was Glad, composed for the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, and sung at the Coronation of Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey in 1953; the hymn ‘All people that on earth do dwell’, which was sung at the Coronation, and two verses of the National Anthem.
Children were also encouraged to make musical soundscapes, using a newly commissioned musical map of a royal procession through central London by Hans Rashbrook.
The Queen has received a commemorative book with photographs of the participating schools, and a video was produced showcasing the singing.
Many schools in the Diocese of London took part, from Holy Trinity in Tottenham to St Saviour’s in Poplar, most of which are partners of the OBE Music Partnership Programme based at St Paul’s, led by Tom Daggett.
Explore St Paul’s learning resources on their website.