Hymns for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

'O taste and see how gracious the Lord is .' Those lovely words from Psalm 34 were set to music by Ralph Vaughn Williams for a particularly joyful occasion in June 1953 - the Coronation of the young Queen of England , Elizabeth II.

Only ten years earlier, the world had been caught in the deadly grip of war. Now, the horrors and the hardhsips of that long confllict were over, and a new chapter could begin.

It was a time of hope and confidence, a time for building a brave new world based on the best traditions inherited from the past .

Vaughan Williams was well placed to express those sentiments in his music...

A programme presented by Monsignor Philip Whitmore and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick.

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