A celebration of Orlando Gibbons: 400th anniversary concert

400 years after his death in 1625, this concert celebrates his life and work in a building which held particular family significance for the composer.

Orlando Gibbons, organist of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal, was also a parishioner of St Margaret’s and his seven children were all baptised in the church. Illustrating his standing as one of the most melodious and inventive of Tudor composers, the programme includes some of his finest church anthems and organ music, as well as a madrigal with words by Sir Walter Raleigh, who lies buried beneath the altar of St Margaret’s, and perhaps his most famous work, The Silver Swan.

The St Margaret’s Consort is the professional vocal ensemble which provides choral music for the many high-profile services which take place in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey; in particular, the Consort provides the music for celebrations of the life and works of prominent Parliamentarians, due to the close links St Margaret’s has enjoyed with both Houses of Parliament over the centuries. The lower voices of the Consort also sing regularly with the St Margaret’s Choristers. There is evidence of choral music in St Margaret’s dating back to the church’s consecration in 1523, when prominent Tudor composers Nicholas Ludford and Robert Whyte were closely associated with the church. The current Consort has its roots in the Choir of St Margaret’s Church, which in the past half century has been conducted by, among others, Richard Hickox, Simon Over and Aidan Oliver.

St Margaret’s Consort
Greg Morris conductor