This article was written for the August 2023 issue of our parish magazine, as part of a series about coronatoin anthems. Based on Psalm 34:8, this anthem was composed for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was also sung at her funeral last year. The text is: This motet is considered short … More O Taste and See – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Is it only me that has a favourite compendium of sacred anthems? It’s “the blue and yellow one”, also known as “Anthems for Choirs 2: Twenty-four Anthems for Sopranos and Altos (unison and 2-part)” … More The Song of the Tree of Life – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
This article was written for the September 2017 edition of the parish magazine. Published in 1911, Vaughan Williams set the words of Herbert’s poem The Call to music as one of a larger work, set of Five Mystical Songs. This song collection used four of Herbert’s poems, published in 1633 as “The Temple: Sacred Poems”. … More The Call – George Herbert (1593-1633)/Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death … More The Call (R V Williams)
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 