Coronation Hymn

A lasting legacy

Invocation: A Coronation Hymn was commissioned by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and written by the eminent Northern Irish composer Philip Hammond to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

The inspiration for the project was the long and rich tradition of coronation anthems which stretches back more than 300 years, and which includes compositions by Handel, Purcell, Parry, Elgar and Vaughan Williams. Like many traditional coronation anthems, Philip Hammond’s Invocation uses texts from the Psalms, but also incorporates the words of the traditional Irish hymn Be Thou My Vision. The piece is sung by Mary McCabe and Aaron O’Hare – two young Northern Irish singers who perform with NI Opera – plus around 450 pupils from 19 primary, secondary and special schools from all parts of the Borough. The strings section of the Ulster Orchestra accompanies the young singers to create a beautiful piece which is both traditional and contemporary, and which is an important and fitting addition to this historical occasion.

Pupils from the following schools sang in the recording of the hymn:

• Abbots Cross Primary School
• Antrim Grammar School
• Antrim Primary School
• Ballyclare Secondary School
• Ballynure Primary School
• Carnmoney Primary School
• Crumlin Integrated Primary School
• Doagh Primary School
• Fairview Primary School
• Greystone Primary School
• Hill Croft Special School
• Integrated College Glemgormley
• Loanends Primary School
• Parkhall Integrated College
• Rathcoole Primary School
• Riverside Special School
• Templepatrick Primary School
• Tildarg Primary School
• Whiteabbey Primary School