Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Music Included a Nod to Her 1947 Wedding to Prince Philip (2024)

As loved ones began to say their goodbyes to Queen Elizabeth II at her Westminster Abbey state funeral, they paid their respects with a hymn that was sung on a special day in her life.

Among three hymns recited at the Monday service was "The Lord's my Shepherd," which was also sung at her 1947 wedding ceremony to the late Prince Philip. Theirs was the longest marriage in royal history.

Thee music at the funeral of the Queen, who died at her home in Balmoral, Scotland, on Sept. 8 at 96, reflected her Christian faith as well as traditions within the royal family. Another hymn, 'Love divine, all loves excelling," was heard at the 2011 wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, according to a tweet from Westminister Abbey.

Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Music Included a Nod to Her 1947 Wedding to Prince Philip (1)

The music was performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, with both choirs being led by Westminster Abbey's Organist and Master of the Choristers James O'Donnell, according to Wales Online. The organ during the funeral was played by Peter Holder, and Matthew Jorys played pieces beforehand.

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A specially commissioned choral piece "Like as the Hart" was composed for the service by the master of the king's music, Judith Weir.

Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Music Included a Nod to Her 1947 Wedding to Prince Philip (2)

"The piece, inspired by Her Majesty's unwavering Christian faith, is a setting of Psalm 42 to music and will be sung unaccompanied," Buckingham Palace said, per ABC News.

Also performed was "O taste and see," an anthem composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams for the Queen's 1953 coronation.

Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Music Included a Nod to Her 1947 Wedding to Prince Philip (3)

Among other pieces performed at the state funeral were "Fantasia of four parts" by Orlando Gibbon, "Reliqui domum meum" by Peter Maxwell Davies, "romanza (Symphony No. 5 in D)" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Prelude on 'Ecce jam noctis' Op 157 No. 3" by Healey Willan, "Meditation on 'Brother James's Air'" by Harold Darke, "Psalm Prelude Set 1 No. 2" by Herbert Howells, "Fantasy on 'O Paradise'" by Malcolm Williamson, "In the Country Op 194 No. 2" by Charles Villiers Stanford, "Elegy Op 58" by Edward Elgar, "Andante espressivo (Sonata in G Op 28)" by Edward Elgar and "Sospiri Op 70" by Edward Elgar, according to Wales Online.

The choir closed off the ceremony with a performance of "God Save the King," before a two-minute moment of silence Monday morning.

While most in attendance sang along at the Queen's service, her son King Charles III noticeably did not sing along to the national anthem. The monarch, 73, stood silent as those at the service sang "God Save the King," formerly known as "God Save the Queen" during Queen Elizabeth's reign.

The song, which is performed to the monarch, was first performed in London in September 1745 and "this practice soon spread to other theatres, and the custom of greeting monarchs with the song as he or she entered a place of public entertainment was thus established," per the royal family's official website.

Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Music Included a Nod to Her 1947 Wedding to Prince Philip (2024)

FAQs

What song was sung at Queen Elizabeth's funeral and at her wedding? ›

Among three hymns recited at the Monday service was "The Lord's my Shepherd," which was also sung at her 1947 wedding ceremony to the late Prince Philip.

What was the piece of music played at the Queens funeral? ›

The congregation then sang the national anthem, 'God Save the King'. As the anthem finished, The Queen's Piper, Warrant Officer Class 1 (Pipe Major) Paul Burns, played, 'Sleep, dearie, sleep' a traditional Lament.

What music was played at Queen Elizabeth's wedding? ›

17. McKie composed a motet (a vocal musical composition) for the occasion: "We wait for thy loving kindness, O God." 18. Psalm 67 ("God be merciful unto us and bless us") was sung into a setting by Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow, an English organist and composer.

What music was played during the royal funeral procession? ›

During the procession, the band of the Scots Guards and the band of the Grenadier Guards performed a number of different marches.
  • – Beethoven's Funeral March No 1.
  • – Beethoven's Funeral Marches No 2 and 3.
  • – Mendelssohn's Funeral March.
  • – Chopin's Funeral March.

What was Queen Elizabeth's favourite hymn? ›

'Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven' and 'The Lord is My Shepherd' have graced the list of Her Majesty's favourite music, which also features 'Anything You Can Do' from the musical Annie Get Your Gun.

What was the last song the Queen sang at the funeral? ›

The funeral ended with the Queen's Piper, Pipe Major Paul Burns of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, playing "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep," adapted from a Gaelic song called Caidil mo ghaol.

What was the lament played at the Queen's funeral? ›

Pipe Major Paul Burns of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played the lament "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep."

Did they play Sleep Dearie Sleep at the Queen's funeral? ›

"Sleep, Dearie, Sleep" Played During Queen Elizabeth's Funeral. When Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey, the lavish service concluded with a performance of "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep" by the Queen's personal bagpipe player, Pipe Major Paul Burns.

What organ music was played at the end of the Queen's funeral? ›

At the end of the service, Holder performed Fantasia in C minor BWV 562 by Johann Sebastian Bach as the coffin and procession left the Abbey.

What hymn did the Queen walk down the aisle to? ›

This was the processional chosen by Queen Elizabeth for her own wedding in 1947. It is a regal melody, often associated with the grand hymn "Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven."

What song was played for Queen Elizabeth? ›

Rejoice in the Lord - Redford

Nevertheless, it was performed at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as the Homage Anthem along with O Lord our Governour by Willan.

Who did Queen Elizabeth marry in 1947? ›

On 20 November 1947 Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey. Here we see the front page of the “souvenir programme,” a program booklet given to the guests of the royal wedding as a keepsake. The pamphlet is in color, and depicts the royal coat of arms on the top half.

What is the funeral procession music called? ›

A funeral march (marche funèbre in French, marcia funebre in Italian, Trauermarsch in German, marsz żałobny in Polish), as a musical genre, is a march, usually in a minor key, in a slow "simple duple" metre, imitating the solemn pace of a funeral procession.

What was the first song played at the Queen's funeral? ›

After the Dean of Westminster gave The Bidding, including giving thanks for the Queen's "life-long sense of duty and dedication," all those gathered inside the abbey sang the first hymn, The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended.

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