Norwich, UK
At least 6,000 voices are set to take part in a unique church music choral project – and with choirs still registering, the final number could be even higher.
Organised by the Royal School of Church Music, ‘Sing for the King!’ celebrates the coronation of King Charles III with a special choral music commission composed by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. The Mountains Shall Bring Peace uses words from the psalms including ‘sing to the Lord a new song’
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange leads at a choir at St Helen’s Church in Wheathampstead near St Albans, Hertfordshire, in the UK. PICTURE: Royal School of Church Music
According to the RSCM, the anthem “is suitable for both services and concerts. The anthem has moments of grandeur for larger choirs on formal occasions, while its accessible melodic sweep lends an intimacy that will be enjoyed by smaller groups and gatherings”.
“This coronation is taking place during a very turbulent time for our country and our planet and so I was searching for words which would in some way give us all hope for the future. Central to the commission brief was a big singable tune, the kind of memorable melody which anyone and everyone can enjoy singing at the tops of their voices,” said Forbes L’Estrange.
There are two versions of the music – one for larger choirs and one for unison voices with piano. The accompaniments are interchangeable and choirs not wishing to learn the full five-minute piece can still join in the singing by learning the broad, hymn-like melody of the closing section, making it appealing for young or less experienced singers.
What makes this project unusual is that any choir, large or small, amateur or professional, in the UK, the Commonwealth or anywhere in the world can take part. The resultant performances will take place up until the coronation weekend, at concerts, special church services and ‘Come & Sing’ choral workshop events.
At Bristol Cathedral, 650 singers will perform on 1st May, combining the Sing for the King anthem with a performance of Handel’s Zadok the Priest reflecting the city’s own 650 birthday celebration.
“We are delighted to be working with choirs across the city to bring together singers. I know they will have an extraordinary experience singing together in Bristol Cathedral,” said the Very Rev Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol.
The cathedral’s own choir will be joined by numerous local choirs like the Bristol Cabot Choir, City Voices Bristol and UWE Singers as well as community choirs from the region such as Chepstow Choral Society and Worle Community choir. The event will also take place online with more than 100 members of the digital choir Homechoir joining remotely.
To date, more than 500 choirs have signed up for Sing for the King including cathedral choirs at Winchester, Salisbury, Peterborough, and St Magnus on the Orkney Islands. Numerous church choirs and community choirs are taking part as is the choir of St Andrew’s Church, in the New Hampshire community of New London in the US. Online choirs too are involved such as the Long Covid Choir, which are singing the piece via Zoom.
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The RSCM was involved in a smaller, similar project last year.
“We were delighted that in 2022 many hundreds of choirs were united in singing a piece specially written for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee,” said RSCM Director Hugh Morris.
Sing for the King is set to be far bigger, building on the experience gained through the earlier project.
Ultimately, the RSCM hopes is that it will extend interest in church music and choral works on an ecumenical basis within a diverse international context.
“[W]e hope that the project will encourage a wider interest in church music and has drawn attention to the RSCM’s other activities in publishing and training,” said spokesperson Frances Wilson.
