Blest Pair of Sirens facts for kids
Blest Pair of Sirens is a short piece of music for a choir and an orchestra. It was written in 1887 by a famous British composer named Hubert Parry. The music uses the words from a poem called At a Solemn Musick by John Milton.
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What is "Blest Pair of Sirens"?
This musical work is one of Hubert Parry's most well-known pieces. It brings together a large choir and a full orchestra to create a powerful sound. The words of the poem talk about how humans wish to join in with the beautiful music of heaven.
Why was it written?
Blest Pair of Sirens was first performed by the Bach Choir. The conductor was Charles Villiers Stanford. He originally wanted to perform another one of Parry's works. However, the performance was going to be part of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1887. This was a big party to celebrate 50 years of Queen Victoria being on the throne.
The words of the first piece Stanford chose were about death coming to kings and queens. This was not thought to be a good fit for a happy celebration for the Queen! So, Stanford asked Parry to write a brand new piece for the special event. A friend named George Grove suggested that Milton’s poem Ode at a Solemn Music would be perfect for Parry to set to music.
The First Performance
The first time Blest Pair of Sirens was performed was on May 17, 1887. It took place at St James’s Hall in London. People thought the music was very well written for the choir. It matched Milton’s strong words perfectly. In the music, the choir sings in eight different parts, which makes a very rich and full sound.
A Royal Performance
"Blest Pair of Sirens" was also sung at a very important event much later. It was performed at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This happened on April 29, 2011. The choirs of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal sang the piece. It was performed while the couple signed the official register during their wedding ceremony.
Images for kids
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A picture from the 1645 edition of John Milton's poem, which Hubert Parry used for his music.
