HOUSTON, Texas, May 2, 2011 – In a touching tribute to the royal groom’s father and step-mother, Prince William and Catherine Middleton chose to have musical selections from Prince Charles and Camilla’s 2005 wedding performed during their own ceremony on Friday, April 29. The effect was nothing short of magical.
The Official Royal Wedding Photo Montage
The entire live musical program, a collection of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s favorite pieces, was captured as a live recording by Decca Records and is set to release as an album this Thursday, May 5.
Church bells pealed as Catherine’s entourage arrived at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The pre-service music opened with Fantasia in G, by Johann Sebastian Bach, and the radiant bride glided down the aisle to the tune of I Was Glad, by Sir Hubert Parry.
The bride wore an exquisite ivory and white lace and satin gown, and carried a bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth blossoms. The myrtle included a sprig from Queen Victoria’s Osborne House on Isle of Wight.
The music of the royal wedding consisted of time-honored classical pieces, as well as several new works commissioned especially for the fairytale couple’s big day.
James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey, composed special arrangements for two of Prince William and Catherine’s favorite hymns for the service, Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
Another favorite hymn of the royal couple was also played during the service. The historic piece entitled Jerusalem was originally composed by Sir Hubert Parry for the coronation of Edward VII in 1907, and later arranged for orchestra by Edward Elgar.
After the singing of hymns, a newly composed choral anthem debuted, entitled This is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made. It had been exclusively commissioned for Prince William and Catherine by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and written by celebrated composer, John Rutter.
The song’s lyrics were derived from a collection of Biblical Psalms and prayed God’s blessing on the young royal couple.
Set to release on May 5, 2011, the soundtrack of Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding will be available via digital download, CD, vinyl, and even cassette tape. It will feature 23 tracks of live royal wedding music as performed the day of, by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, The Chapel Royal Choir, The London Chamber Orchestra, and The Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
“This will be the first Official Royal Wedding Album ever to enter the worldwide digital charts,” said Dickon Stainer, President of Decca Records. “It will capture a piece of history for a new generation.”
The physical Royal Wedding Album will include a special collectable booklet containing the order of service, readings, vows, hymns, and blessings. A special Deluxe Edition Box Set will include, among other things, two CDs, a souvenir £5 coin, and a copy of the official wedding program.
A Sneak Peak of The Official Royal Wedding Album
Prince William & Princess Catherine Links:
www.OfficialRoyalWeddingAlbum.com
www.OfficialRoyalWedding2011.org
The Official Royal YouTube Channel
The Official Twitter of Clarence House
About Jennifer Grassman
Singer, songwriter and pianist, Jennifer Grassman is an award-winning recording artist based in Houston, Texas. Subscribe by RSS feed and read more from Jennifer at www.JenniferGrassman.com. You can follow Jennifer on Twitter or Facebook. Read more of The Business of Being Diva at The Washington Times Communities.
-jmk -
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
