Specially-commissioned royal wedding music to have ‘Scottish feel’

The couple, who will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29, have also commissioned new pieces of music for their marriage ceremony.

During the service the Abbey’s choir and the Chapel Royal Choir will perform singing duties and the London Chamber Orchestra and the Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will also take part.

Guests at the Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen after the ceremony will be entertained by Claire Jones, the Prince of Wales’ official harpist.

St James’s Palace outlined the musical arrangements in a statement which said: “Both Prince William and Miss Middleton have taken a great deal of interest and care in choosing the music for their service, which will include a number of well-known hymns and choral works as well as some specially commissioned pieces.”

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Queen’s composer, has already confirmed he been commissioned to write music for the wedding, which he said would have a “Scottish feel”.

Kate and William met while studying at St Andrews University 10 years ago and started dating after moving into a student house together.

“I think wedding music should reflect what matters to the couple and in William and Catherine’s case, Scotland is very much part of their love story,” he told reporters. “It is where it began and blossomed, after all.”

During the wedding the choirs will be conducted by James O’Donnell, organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey.

The Abbey’s choir includes 20 boys who attend its own boarding schools, and 12 professional adult singers, known as lay vicars. The Chapel Royal Choir has 10 Children of the Chapel, boy choristers who hold scholarships at City of London School, and six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary, who are professional singers.

They will be accompanied by sub-organist Robert Quinney, who said: “We’re all very, very excited. Of course, there is a lot of pressure and one does get nervous.”