It was commissioned for the state funeral of Elizabeth II, and was first performed at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022 by choirs conducted by James O'Donnell.
[1][2] MacMillan was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to prepare the piece for the state funeral of Elizabeth II, which was held on 19 September 2022.
[8] Tim Ashley from The Guardian wrote about the performance: "... his anthem opening with upper voices hovering over a sustained bass drone, before the music escalates towards a sequence of ecstatic alleluias and comes to rest on a quiet Amen.
"[9] Jeremy Reynolds from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called it a "powerful, earthy anthem" in which "higher voices floated ethereally over a chasmic bass".
[10] He continued: "Alleluias followed, burning bright sonic trails before settling and resting with chords of utter tranquility.