Logo
  • Search
  • My Account Login
  • Basket
  • What’s On
    • Booking Information and FAQs
    • Choral Workshops
    • The Choral Pilgrimage 2025: Angel of Peace
    • Sounds Sublime Choral Festival
  • About Us
    • Meet The Sixteen
      • 006 colour small (for screen) – The Sixteen, Feb 2018 – compressed
      • Sixteen_Group_2_WebRes_RGB
    • Meet Harry Christophers
      • Harry ChristophersPhoto: Marco Borggreve
    • Meet our Staff
    • Our History
    • New Music
      • 1 – compressed for web 2018 Sistine Chapel
      • 1 min
      • Harry Christohpers and The Sixteen & Britten Sinfonia ahead of Genesis Foundation event at Sistine Chapel c. Adrian Myers-min
      • IA1575_GE_AM_1044-min
    • CORO Records
      • CORO_Recording_Catalogue_2021-2022
      • Download CD booklets
    • News
  • Get Involved
    • Schools
      • 3
      • DSC_1870
      • Gladstone Primary Academy Peterborough
      • image_00029 – Copy
      • schools
    • Young People
      • 16-1819
      • ACM_4268-min
      • byc-harry-christophers-saturday-157
      • DSCF3319-min
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-7240
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-7240-min
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-8146-min
    • Adults
      • 1
      • 16CAS-49
      • Choristers
      • IMG_2821
      • Lead
    • Sounds Sublime Choral Festival
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-6846-min
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-7343-min
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-7448-min
      • SoundsSublime-BenTomlin-13thJuly2024-7949-min
  • Genesis Sixteen
    • Current Members for 2024-25
      • genesis sixteen logo high res
      • Genesis Sixteen logo white
      • webgenesis
    • New Members for 2025-26
      • sixteen logo +HC
  • Watch & Listen
  • Shop
  • Support & Join
    • Supporters
    • Donate
      • byc-harry-christophers-saturday-061
      • byc-harry-christophers-saturday-189
      • edit -AIMG_1750 Faber Book Launch 2019-min
      • edit IMG_1645 Sounds Sublime 2019-min
      • John Suchet 1
      • photo (22)
      • SCC-8786 Chichester 2016-min
    • Become a Patron
      • AIMG_2109 Faber Launch 2019-min
      • edit AIMG_2605 Royal Collection 2019
      • edit dinner 3 2015 sixteen club
      • IMG-3069 Michael Watt
    • Support a Recording or New Commission
      • edit AIMG_2129 Faber Book Launch 2019-min
      • edit AIMG_2477 Royal Collection 2019
      • edit DSC_1776 August 2008 Recording-min
      • edit IMG_4381 Choral Odyssey Penshurst 2020-min
      • edit IMG_4551 Choral Odyssey Hatfield 2020-min
      • IMG_3059 Bach May 2013
      • Monteverdi 1650 still
      • monteverdi recording still
      • true englishmen still
    • Leave a Legacy
      • AIMG_2274 Faber Launch 2019-min
      • edit -AIMG_1795 Faber Book Launch 2019-min
      • edit AMIC_1011_JS_210418_2913 2018 Sistine Chapel-min
      • edit IMG_3271 Barbican MacMillan 2019-min
      • edit IMG_3500 Messiah 2019-min
      • IA1102_GEN_AM_5256 2019 EIF MacMillan-min
      • Leaving a legacy to The Sixteen in your will
      • SCC-8883 Chichester 2016-min
  • My Account Login
  • Basket

Help our story continue

We rely on the generosity of our supporters to carry out our ambitious plan of work each year.

Donate Now

Help our story continue

Donate Now
Logo
Donate now
Menu
Back

The Sixteen and Classic FM partner to release exclusive Coronation recording

27 April, 2023

We have joined with Classic FM to present a very special premiere, and a piece of music that perfectly matches our time in history ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III: Byrd's O Lord, Make Thy Servant Charles.

The Sixteen and Classic FM, have today revealed a special recording of Byrd’s well-known O Lord, Make Thy Servant (Elizabeth) in an edition to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King – O Lord, Make Thy Servant Charles. The anthem, composed by William Byrd around 1570, was originally written to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and is now heard in a version commemorating the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

O Lord, Make Thy Servant (Elizabeth) enjoyed popularity throughout Byrd’s lifetime (whose 400th anniversary is marked this year) and in recent years the work was resurrected to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It seems fitting that this work should be performed under the name of her son Charles, ahead of his Coronation on Saturday 6th May.

O Lord, Make Thy Servant Charles was performed at St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge, and conducted by The Sixteen’s Founder and Director Harry Christophers. The exclusive world premiere broadcast will take place shortly after 10am today (Thursday 27th April) on Classic FM during Alexander Armstrong‘s programme and the performance will be available to view on Global Player.

Anthems composed to celebrate the good health and prosperity of sovereigns became known as King’s Day Anthems and were frequently performed on the anniversary of the Sovereign’s accession. At the time, it was common for anthems to be reused for each new monarch, and for regnal names to be replaced in manuscripts.

Though the original manuscript of this anthem did not survive, it is one of eleven Byrd anthems to be included in John Barnard’s rare work First Book of Selected Church Music (1641). The text was adapted for use throughout the reign of Charles I.

Musician and historian Alan Duffield, along with Harry Christophers, came across this piece at the British Library, and in a manuscript at Lambeth Palace Library. These vital resources were used as the basis for this performance.

The original anthem, O Lord Make Thy Servant Elizabeth, and a specially commissioned work by Cecilia McDowall in honour of the late Queen feature on The Sixteen’s new album, Coronation – Music for Royal Occasions.

Stay connected with The Sixteen

Subscribe to our mailing list for monthly updates

Sign up
Logo
  • Jobs
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Classic FM Lottery Logo

The Sixteen Ltd. Reg. No. 1930741. The Sixteen Productions Ltd. Reg. No. 4252277.

Registered Office: Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3RB

Registered charity No. 326917

Heading to the box office

You’re going to the venue’s website to book

Be part of something bigger

We rely on the generosity of our supporters to help fulfil our mission of bringing choral music to the widest and most diverse audience possible. Be a part of our story by donating today.

Donate Now