Garland for the Queen Songs for Mixed V

A Garland for the Queen was originally commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain to mark the occasion of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and was first performed on 1st June 1953 at the Royal Festival Hall, at a special concert of ‘Music for the Eve of Coronation Day’, with Boris Ord conducting The Golden Age Singers and The Cambridge University Madrigal Society.

This new edition has been published, in what is a special year for all things English, to celebrate both the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952 and the sixtieth anniversary of her Coronation in 1953.

With the notable exceptions of Walton and Britten, who were involved in the celebrations elsewhere, with Orb and Sceptre and Gloriana respectively, ten of the most prominent composers of the day were represented in the original volume, reproduced here. It is pleasing to think that these attractive though demanding pieces – four of which do not refer directly to the Queen, though all contemplate some aspect of English national or spiritual life – might receive further performances this year, when we are currently witnessing something of a revival of interest in choral singing.