Dear friends of Music at Bethesda,

We have one event remaining for the season, which is the Recital & Evensong this coming Sunday, May 7. We’ve changed the plan from the original music list because it falls on the same weekend as the Coronation of Charles III. Our music will include two of Queen Elizabeth’s favourite hymns and pieces composed specifically for royal occasions.

At 3:30 p.m., Michael Murray will play a recital on our 114-rank Austin organ:
Crown imperial — William Walton
Prelude on Rhosymedre — Ralph Vaughan Williams
Music for the Royal Fireworks — George Frideric Handel
Improvisation on “God save the King” — Michael Murray

And then, Evensong at 4:00 p.m. will be led by the Bethesda Choir:
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven [descant by Albert Charles Tysoe]
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended [descant by Simon Lindley]
Psalm 84 — Anglican chant by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
Magnificat & Nunc dimittis for the King’s College (Collegium Regale) — Herbert Howells
I was glad — Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
“Zadok the Priest” from Coronation Anthems — George Frideric Handel
Jerusalem [arranged by Stuart Forster from Edward Elgar’s florid orchestration]
Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 in D — Edward Elgar

The reception afterwards will have a British Commonwealth theme, including tea, sausage rolls, and cucumber sandwiches. I hope you will invite someone to join us!

And, finally, in case you weren’t able to be with us on Easter Day—or if you’d like to watch it again—here is the video of our record-attendance morning (not shown: the Parish Hall and the Cloisters were also full!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G9K67nJ96A&t=550s

Happy Easter!
Stuart