MacMillan, James: O give thanks unto the Lord

This work was commissioned by the Friends of Cathedral Music to mark their Diamond Jubilee in 2016, with the intention of performance by as many of the affiliated choirs as possible. Naturally a celebratory anthem was envisaged but with a text that is general enough to allow its performance throughout the church year. The opening section features a joyful, energetic setting of the first five verses of Psalm 105 (King James Version). A contrastingly quiet and gentle passage follows, the text being Robert Herrick’s (1591–1674) To Music. A Song ("‘Music, thou Queen of Heaven, Care-charming spell …"). The opening material then returns, with a short, ecstatic organ postlude bringing the piece to its conclusion.