The choir of St Mary Magdalene, Launceston under the direction of its choirmaster and organist, Robin Stubbs, sang a concert on Sunday evening in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

It opened with Wesley’s 5 part anthem “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace” before Purcell’s anthem for Queen Mary’s funeral “Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts”. Victoria’s anthem “Jesu dulcis memoria” preceded 2 Tudor anthems, Batten’s anguished “Hear my prayer” and then Tomkins’ “My shepherd is a living Lord” featuring Sharron Wormald (alto) and Bernard Pink (tenor) as soloists.

Robin then played Walford Davies’ “Solemn Melody” before the choir sang their second set starting with the traditional orthodox “Kiev Kontakion” and then Walford Davies’ arrangement of “Psalm 121” before Sanders’ arrangement of “The Lord’s Prayer” and finally Parry’s setting of Tennyson’s poetry called “Sunset and Evening Star” but popularly known as “Crossing the bar”

The Adagio from Mahler’s 5th Symphony was Robin’s next reflective organ piece before the choir sang Wood’s arrangement of the “Nunc Dimittis” featuring the basses, Howard Goodall’s setting of “The Lord is my shepherd”, better known as the Vicar of Dibley theme, featuring Amber Newton as soprano soloist, and ended the set with Parry’s arrangement of “Dear Lord and Father of mankind”.

Robin then played a more upbeat organ piece by J S Bach, his “Fantasie in G” leading to the choir’s final more optimistic items, first Batten’s “O sing joyfully” and finally Monteverdi’s 6 part anthem “Cantate Domino”

The concert was free but there was a retiring collection in aid of church funds.