O Lord our Governor

This anthem was commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Butchers for the 400th anniversary of their Royal Warrant and premiered in St Paul’s Cathedral in 2005.  It uses words from Psalm 8 and the organ plays a prominent role with its extensive introduction and postlude.  At times the choir divides into two, providing antiphonal effects and an increasing sense of climax towards the end of the piece.

O Lord our Governor,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
You made man ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet.
All sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field;
the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea.
O Lord our Governor,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Words: adapted from Psalm 8