Once in a while the secular world gets a peek into the world of church music … and that happens whenever there is a state funeral. Today the world got a peek into the best of Anglican church music at the funeral of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. I understand Prince Philip chose all the music for today’s service, which was different from other royal services due to the pandemic. Only 30 people were allowed into St. George’s Windsor Chapel.
Because of the time difference between Hawaii and England, I was content to watch the service on YouTube, which you can find here.
Here is the list of music performed during the service.
Music played before the funeral service
- Schmucke dich, o liebe Seele BWV 654 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Adagio espressivo (Sonata in A minor) – Sir William Harris (1883-1973)
- Salix (The Plymouth Suite) – Percy Whitlock (1903-1946)
- Berceuse (Op 31 No. 19) – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
- Rhosymedre (Three Preludes founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes) – Ralph Vaughan Williams – (1872-1958)
Unfortunately the video did not show any of the pre-service organ music. The Bach, “Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,” and the Vaughan Williams, “Rhosymedre,” are both pieces which I could play in my sleep!
Music played during the service
- Eternal Father, Strong To Save (Melita), by J. B. Dykes (1823-76) William Whiting (1825-78), Arranged by James Vivian (b. 1974)5
- The Jubilate, Benjamin Britten (1913-76), in C, Written for St George’s Chapel, Windsor at the request of The Duke of Edinburgh
- Psalm 104, William Lovelady (b. 1945) abridged and arranged for choir and organ by James Vivian (b. 1974) with the composer’s permission. Words from Psalm 104, adapted by Sam Dyer (b. 1945).
- The Lesser Litany, William Smith (1603-45), adapted by Roger Judd, MVO (b. 1944)
- The Lord’s Prayer, Music by Robert Stone (1516-1613) from John Day’s Certaine Notes 1565
- Russian Kontakion of the Departed, Translated William John Birkbeck (1859-1916). Kiev Melody, arranged by Sir Walter Parratt, KCVO (1841-1924)
Two of these pieces were very familiar to me: The hymn tune MELITA (“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”) — Americans know this as “The Navy Hymn,” and Benjamin Britten’s “Jubilate Deo,” which I played countless times as organist at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. “The Jubliate”, which was written by English composer Benjamin Britten for the St George’s Choir at the Duke’s request, translates literally to “song of joy”, and includes a reference to entering God’s “gates with thanksgiving”. According to the service program (see below), Prince Philip asked Britten to compose both the “Jubilate” and the “Te Deum” in 1958. Britten died in 1976.
Music played after the service
Luke Bond, Assistant Director of Music, St George’s Chapel played “Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 546” by Johann Sebastian Bach. This is a piece I studied with Marcel Dupré in 1968—unfortunately the broadcast cut it off in the middle of the prelude.
As you might have expected, the service and its music was elegant, solemn and dignified.
As I was listening to the service, I was instantly transported 7,217 miles to Windsor Chapel — all without getting on a plane!
If you’d like to see the service program, you can download it here.