Anthems for the Queen

The Choirbook for the Queen, which has recently been launched, is a remarkable initiative, involving most of the leading Church musicians of our day and many philanthropists besides. The idea behind it is simple enough: to put together a collection of anthems (I use the word precisely) to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, with the added intention of showcasing ‘the excellence of choral writing and the continuation of the choral tradition by cathedral choirs and other choral foundations around the country’. Already in place is a plan for 80 of our cathedral and collegiate choirs to sing two of these anthems each this year, some to be broadcast on the BBC.

To encourage choirs to join in with these performances complete sets of the two volumes that make up the Choirbook have been widely distributed. The expense of such an exercise has been met principally by the Foyle Foundation, but thereafter by individuals who wanted to make sure that their local choral foundation would not miss out.