Even for Ralph Vaughan Williams the prospect of two world premieres within 24 hours must have been something of a rarity. Such was the case however on the first two days of June 1953, when his now classic arrangement of The Old Hundredth Psalm was sung at the Coronation of Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, being preceded the evening before by the premiere of 'Silence and Music', fourth of ten partsongs of A Garland for the Queen, commissioned from leading British composers by the Arts Council of Great Britain to honour the new monarch. Long unavailable except as separate items from individual publishers, this historic collectionis now reissued complete by Stainer & Bell in its original single-volume format, allowing conductors and singers to choose from a rich collection of choral music with which to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and, in 2013, the 60th anniversary of the Coronation itself. In addition to VW's contribution, A Garland for the Queen includes important settings by Bax, Berkeley, Bliss, Finzi, Howells, Ireland, Rawsthorne, Rubbra and Tippett. The collection moreover draws on the work of poets whose names likewise feature prominently in the annals of mid-century British literary talent: Clifford Bax, Edmund Blunden, Paul Dehn, Christopher Fry, Christopher Hassall, James Kirkup, Louis MacNeice, Walter de la Mare, Henry Reed and Ursula Wood. Intended as a counterpart to The Triumphs of Oriana of 1601, the celebrated madrigal volume published in praise of Elizabeth I by Thomas Morley, A Garland for the Queen emulates its distinguished predecessor in its variety of moods and vocal combinations. There is material here to fit every aspect of celebration, from the airy five-part ensemble of Bax's 'What is it like to be young and fair?', and the soprano solo with SATB of Rawsthorne's Canzonet, to the lustrous contrasting of male and female timbres in Bliss's Aubade, and the rapturous eight-part setting of/ Recueil / Voix Mixtes

Par DICKENS EMILY. This 5 minute arrangement by Emily Dickens for VOCES8 draws together a pair of stunningly emotive melodic lines from the Scottish and Irish folk traditions: My Lagan Love and She Moved Through the Fair. The lower voices create a drone on which the tenor and upper voices explore the beautifully simple and instantly recognisable harmonies of these folk songs. / Choral Music / Recueil / Voix Mixtes

Par L'ESTRANGE ALEXANDER (Arr.). Afton Water is a gentle, lyrical hymn of praise both to the countryside of Scotland itself and to a girl called Mary who lies sleeping by the banks of the river Afton near Ayr, south of Glasgow. Alexander L’Estrange’s arrangement is both enjoyable and approachable whilst being true to the spirit of the original song. This piece is part of the Faber Choral Singles series, offering a selection of beautifully crafted arrangements in a diversity of musical styles. From Broadway, pop and folk to spirituals, gospel and original works, the series is arranged for 3 part choirs (soprano, alto and a combined male-voice part) providing flexibility for any choir. Complete with straight-forward piano accompaniments supporting the vocal lines, the Faber Choral Singles series guarantees the perfect repertoire for every occasion – so get exploring and get singing! / Choral Music / Répertoire / Voix Mixtes

Par BIZET GEORGES / DELIBES LÉO / MOZART WOLFGANG AMAD. This is one of VOCES8’s earliest arrangements by Jim Clements and was first performed at London’s Royal Opera House. Many well-loved tunes from famous operas appear in this 4-minute piece and there is plenty of opportunity to bring them to life on stage, unleashing the singer's inner diva! / Choral Music / Recueil / Voix Mixtes