Holst: I Vow to Thee, My Country

A collection of music by great British composers, including Elgar - Land of Hope and Glory, Enigma Variations; Holst – The Planets; Walton – Crown Imperial; Orb & Sceptre and Parry – Jerusalem. Full of highly recognisable themes, this album captures and celebrates the great British spirit.

Released in time for the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, which takes place on the 29th April 2011. With street parties up and down the isle and a national bank holiday, the biggest Royal event since the Marriage of Prince Charles to Princess Diana is set to be celebrated in style.

There is surely no more quintessentially English sound than that of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, its unaccompanied voices – evocative of immemorial sandstone, of cool cloisters, of evensong in church, chapel and cathedral – serene in the music of Shakespeare’s contemporaries Byrd and Gibbons, ethereal in Delius heard of a summer’s night across the Backs of the River Cam.

No less iconic is the chapel that lends its unique acoustic to that sound. One of the glories of the English perpendicular style of architecture, it was eventually completed in 1547, a little over a century after the founding of the college itself by Henry VI.

This collection opens and closes with coronation music: Zadok the Priest was written for the crowning of George II in 1727, I was glad for that of Edward VII in 1902. Both were so successful that they have been sung at every coronation since their premières. Parry’s ‘processional anthem’ is heard here in its full panoply of extra brass and shouted Vivats, the choir of King’s choir providing the semi-chorus in the exquisite interlude ‘O pray for the peace of Jerusalem’.

In between are motets ancient and modern – from the miniature If ye love me and the architectural splendour of the 40-part Spem in alium to William Harris’s dramatic double-choir Spenser setting Faire is the Heaven; well-known psalms sung to Anglican chant; and favourite hymns, notably All people that on earth do dwell, arranged ceremonially for another coronation, that of Elizabeth II.

As well as national rejoicing there is solemn remembrance. Come ye sons of art away is Purcell’s 1694 birthday ode for Queen Mary, Thou knowest, Lord part of the music he wrote for her funeral just nine months later. John Ireland’s Greater love hath no man is often heard on Remembrance Sunday; Sir John Tavener’s Song for Athene made a powerful impression at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; while John Rutter’s small-scale, personal Requiem touched a wider public following the attacks of 11 September 2001. But ‘Nimrod’ above all epitomises music of national remembrance. Here a choral setting of it, Lux aeterna, represents our ‘Shakespeare of music’, Edward Elgar.

The definitive sound of British Choral music will be sure to resonate through the Nation this forthcoming May bank holiday. This stunning 2CD compilation is filled with some of the most evocative and iconic British music ever composed.

Drawn from the catalogues of Decca Classics, Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Records, this TV advertised compilation includes performances from a variety of the world's leading choirs and ensembles: Westminster Abbey Choir, Christ Church Cathedral Choir under Stephen Darlington, New College Choir under Edward Higginbottom, and with such orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Star performances come from Kiri Te Kanawa, All Angels, and many more.

A collection of music traditionally played at wedding ceremonies, with an elegantly British twist

The Great British Wedding Album encapsulates not only the most popular classical music played during wedding ceremonies and celebrations, but also the most quintessentially British classical music.

The album is the perfect souvenir soundtrack for the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, which takes place on the 29th April 2011. With street parties up and down the country and a national bank holiday, the Royal Wedding is shaping up to be the biggest Royal occasion since the marriage of Prince Charles to Princess Diana.

Full of highly recognisable themes, this album is unique in capturing both the celebratory and ceremonial aspects of weddings, but also the sense of patriotism and occasion that will no doubt be prevalent around the time of the Royal Wedding.

Strolling along on a Sunday afternoon, we can hear the band in the bandstand playing favourite melodies and musical highlights from the world of stage and screen. Superb musicaians create a sparkling evocation of the world of the brass band.

A musical tour of London's sights, with an atmospheric piece of music for every one. A fine reminder of a great city, from band music for changing the guard to Lloyd Webber in theatre land, and from soaring church music to popular songs from the East End.

Recorded in the Domkirke in the historic Viking city of Toensberg.