In Honour of the City of London

for mixed chorus and orchestra

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
Summer 1937, at Ravello, Italy.

First Performance:
6 October 1937. Town Hall, Leeds. Leeds Festival Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor. Leeds Triennial Festival.

Duration:
About 17 minutes

Text:
William Dunbar (1465–1520). An eponymous poem written for the marriage in 1501 of King James IV of Scotland to Margaret Tudor.
Click here for complete text.

Dedication:
Dedicated to the Leeds Festival Chorus.

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C33 

Performing Forces:

Mixed chorus (SATB)

2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, glockenspiel, triangle, tubular bell) – 1 or 2 harps – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 596. Autograph vocal score, complete up to the penultimate line of the third verse. 25 pages.

The location of the autograph full score is unknown. A note in Stewart Craggs's catalogue reads: "It was given to the London Contemporary Music Centre by the composer in June 1951 as a raffle prize. A photocopy of the manuscript reveals that it consisted of 83 pages, and was dated 'Sept 5th 1937'." The location of the photocopy is not given.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Vocal score, 1937, 019 3385619. Score and parts are available on hire.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Vocal score]

Recordings:

Text:

                    In Honour of the City of London

London, thou art of townes A per se.
Soveraign of cities, seemliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many a goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis, in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and of myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Gladdith anon, thou lusty Troynovaunt,
Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy;
In all the erth, imperiall as thou stant,
Pryncesse of townes, of pleasure and of joy,
A richer restith under no Christen roy;
For manly power, with craftis naturall,
Fourmeth none fairer sith the flode of Noy:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Gemme of all joy, jasper of jocunditie,
Most myghty carbuncle of vertue and valour;
Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytie;
Of royall cities rose and geraflour;
Empress of townes, exalt in honour;
In beawtie beryng the crone imperiall;
Swete paradise precelling in pleasure;
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Above all ryvers thy Ryver hath renowne,
Whose beryall stremys, pleasaunt and preclare,
Under thy lusty wallys renneth down,
Where many a swan doth swymme with wyngis fair;
Where many a barge doth saile and row with are;
Where many a ship doth rest with top-royall.
O, towne of townes! patrone and not compare,
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Upon thy lusty Brigge of pylers white
Been merchauntis full royall to behold;
Upon thy stretis goeth many a semely knyght
In velvet gownes and in cheynes of gold.
By Julyus Cesar thy Tour founded of old
May be the hous of Mars victoryall,
Whose artillary with tonge may not be told:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Strong be thy wallis that about thee standis;
Wise be the people that within thee dwellis;
Fresh is thy ryver with his lusty strandis;
Blith be thy chirches, wele sownyng be thy bellis;
Rich be thy merchauntis in substaunce that excellis;
Fair be their wives, right lovesom, white and small;
Clere be thy virgyns, lusty under kellis:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

                        —  William Dunbar  (1465–1520)

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Choral Music