THE QUEEN’S SIX
A Cappella Vocal Music Concert
The Queen’s Six was established in 2008, the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I, from whom they take their name. Based at Windsor Castle, members of The Queen’s Six make up part of the Lay Clerks of St George’s Chapel, whose homes lie within the Castle walls. The Chapel Choir, which consists of girl and boy choristers and twelve professional adult singers, performs some eight services a week, as well as at private and state occasions, often before the Royal Family.
In 2018, group members’ duties with the Chapel Choir included singing for the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle, now The Duke and Duchess of Sussex; in 2021, three members of the group sang at the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh; and in 2022, members of the group sang at the Committal part of the official funeral services for Queen Elizabeth II. Now Lissie, Tom, Nick, Dom, Andrew and Simon have come together to bring their unique style of entertainment to a much wider audience.
Their repertoire extends far beyond the reach of the choir stalls: from austere early chant, florid Renaissance polyphony, lewd madrigals and haunting folk songs, to upbeat Jazz and Pop arrangements. For their 10th anniversary in 2018, the group commissioned new pieces from Nico Muhly and Philip Moore, and arrangements from Alexander L’Estrange. The Queen’s Six has sung at a number of prestigious festivals and venues, including the MET Cloisters in New York City, the Salzburg Bachgesellschaft, the Bermuda Festival, Bayreuth’s Margravial Opera House and St Louis Cathedral Basilica.
Upcoming tours include return trips to the USA, Germany, the Baltic States and Poland, and first visits to China and Bulgaria.
PROGRAMME
Part I: Winter Light and Stillness
Alexander L’ESTRANGE (b. 1974)
Lighten our darkness (2007)
Thomas TALLIS (c.1505–1585)
Videte miraculum (16th c.)
Edgar PETTMAN (1866–1943)
A Carol of Adoration
Jonathan RATHBONE (b. 1957)
The Oxen, lyrics by Thomas Hardy (2009)
Peter WARLOCK (1894–1930)
Bethlehem down, lyrics by Bruce Blunt (1927)
English traditional Christmas carol
God rest ye merry, gentlemen; arr. by Simon Whiteley
Irish traditional song
O Danny Boy, lyrics by Frederic Weatherly (1913); arr. by Alexander L’Estrange
Robert WELLS (1922–1998), Mel TORMÉ (1925–1999)
The Christmas Song (1945); arr. by Peter Knight
Hugh MARTIN (1914–2011)
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, lyrics by Ralph Blane (1943); arr. by Bob Chilcott
Part II: Holiday Cheer and Playfulness
Walter E. “Jack” ROLLINS (1906–1973), Steve NELSON (1907–1981)
Frosty the Snowman (1950); arr. by Jim Clements
José FELICIANO (g. 1945)
Feliz Navidad (1970); arr. by Tom Lilburn
Tom LEHRER (1928–2025)
Poisoning pigeons in the park (1959); arr. by Simon Whiteley
We will all go together when we go (1959); arr. by Tom Lilburn
Bob CHILCOTT (g. 1955)
Sun, moon, sea & stars (2013)
Marvin HAMLISCH (1944–2012)
Nobody does it better, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager (1977); arr. by Tom Lilburn
Billie EILISH (g. 2003)
No time to die (2020); arr. by Andrew Thompson
Felix BERNARD (1897–1944)
Winter Wonderland, lyrics by Richard Bernhard Smith (1934); arr. Paul Ayres
Mariah CAREY (g. 1969), Walter AFANASIEFF (g. 1958)
All I want for Christmas is you (1994); arr. by Miguel Esteban
James Lord PIERPONT (1822–1893)
Jingle Bells (1857); arr. by Keith Roberts
