Two new works to be heard in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

The Master of the Queen’s Musick Judith Weir and the leading Scottish composer James MacMillan have written new works for today’s great occasion.

Judith Weir says: ‘“For this funeral service, Westminster Abbey requested that I set to music the first seven verses of Psalm 42, “Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God”. The words and music speak at first of the soul’s great sadness and thirst for God’s reassurance;
but as the psalm progresses, the mood becomes calmer and more resolved, culminating in
consolation, with the words “Put thy trust in God”. The Queen’s strong faith in, and support of, Anglican worship was an inspiration for me when setting this psalm to music.”’

James MacMillan, a devout Roman Catholic, tells us: ‘I am honoured that my anthem “Who shall separate us” commissioned for this event will be sung at the Commendation.’
WHO shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! Amen.
Romans 8: 35a, 38b/em>