Although most of its work focuses on music of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, the Hilliard Ensemble also performs contemporary music, working frequently with the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and including in its concerts works by John Cage, Gavin Bryars, Giya Kancheli, and Heinz Holliger.
The group was originally founded by Paul Hillier, Paul Elliott, and David James, although the membership was flexible until Hillier left in the late 1980s. Since 1990 the core members have been David James, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Potter, and Gordon Jones.
The Hilliard Ensemble has recorded extensively for the ECM label. In 1993, when popular interest in Gregorian chant was at its height, the ensemble released the CD Officium, an unprecedented collaboration with the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. The disc became one of ECM's biggest-selling releases of all time, reaching the pop charts in several European countries. (Officium's sequel, the 2-CD set Mnemosyne, followed in 1999.)
National Anthem of the United Kingdom
The Hilliard Ensemble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
God save the Queen!
Thy choicest gifts in store,
long may she reign!
May she defend our laws,
and ever give us cause,
to sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!
The Hilliard Ensemble's rendition of the "National Anthem of the United Kingdom" is an emotional and patriotic ode to Queen Elizabeth II who has been reigning over the UK since 1952. The opening lines of the song, "God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen!" express the deep-seated respect and admiration that the British people have for their monarch. The repetition of the phrase "God save the Queen" reinforces the sentiment and emphasizes the centrality of the monarchy to British identity and culture.
The next two lines are a plea for divine intervention in the affairs of the Queen. The phrase "Send her victorious, happy and glorious" is a hope that she will prosper and succeed in all that she undertakes. The final six lines of the song are a tribute to the Queen's reign and her role as a defender of British democracy and law. The lines "Thy choicest gifts in store, on her be pleased to pour, long may she reign!" emphasize the enduring nature of the monarchy and its importance in British history.
Overall, "National Anthem of the United Kingdom" is a powerful and moving tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and the British monarchy. It captures the deep sense of tradition, patriotism, and loyalty that characterizes the British people and their relationship with their monarch.
Line by Line Meaning
God save our gracious Queen,
May God protect and watch over our kind and benevolent Queen.
long live our noble Queen,
May our honorable Queen continue to have a long and prosperous life.
God save the Queen!
We pray that God saves and protects our beloved Queen.
Send her victorious,
Grant her triumph in all of her endeavors.
happy and glorious,
May she experience joy and splendor throughout her life.
God save the Queen!
Again, we pray that God saves and protects our cherished Queen.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
May you have a wealth of wonderful gifts to bestow upon our Queen.
on her be pleased to pour,
May you be delighted to lavish her with all of your blessings.
long may she reign!
May she have a lengthy and successful reign as our monarch.
May she defend our laws,
Enable her to safeguard and uphold our nation's laws.
and ever give us cause,
As she protects our legal system, may she also inspire us to celebrate our country.
to sing with heart and voice,
May our patriotism be expressed through stirring and concerted song.
God save the Queen!
Once more, we implore that God saves and protects our beloved Queen.
Contributed by Jeremiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.