In praise of the St George’s Chapel choristers

The stark simplicity of the music performed at Prince Philip’s funeral service will have made a gentle but huge impact on the mourners, inside St George’s Chapel Windsor and on the millions watching on television around the world. Those of us who have some involvement in the world of choral music were mightily impressed at how the music was delivered, by only four choristers when the norm is a full complement of about 30 singers, adults and children. Three of the four singers were Lay Clerks of St George’s Chapel Choir (countertenor, tenor and baritone) with an added female soprano voice, conducted by James Vivian and the organ was played by Luke Bond.

The pressure of singing choral music as soloists cannot be underestimated – each voice is exposed and bare, and on this occasion broadcast live internationally, in one of the world’s most important ceremonies, the handful of musicians must have needed nerves of steel. Amazingly,