This work was composed by John Rutter to mark the colourful commemoration of the landmark event in the history of justice and freedom, the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta on June 15, 2015. The prevailing mood of the piece is festive, but a prayerful moment before the closing pages is Orlando Gibbons lovely hymn-tune 'Song 1', to new words expressing the theme of the occasion. In this arrangement, there is the flexibility of performing it with combined band and chorus, or by band alone, and with the added option of having the band sing the Gibbons hymn-tune.
