Jerusalem (in key of F): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Sean O'Boyle
Grade: 5-6
Item: 35-PK00283821
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Description
"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, which was published in 1808. Today it is best known as the anthem "Jerusalem", with music written by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916. Since 2004, it has been the anthem of the England cricket team, being played before each day of their home test matches, and is regularly sung by Rugby Union crowds and a featured Anthem in the ceremonies of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. This arrangement was commissioned by the English Wales Cricket Board for the "Ashes" (a bi-annual cricketing tournament England vs Australia), recorded by tenor Seán Ruane with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the choir Tenebrae.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00283821
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sean O'Boyle
Sean O'Boyle is an arranger whose work bridges classical tradition with contemporary performance contexts. His arrangement of Jerusalem for the English Cricket Board demonstrates his ability to capture the ceremonial weight of established anthems while making them accessible to ensemble performers.
Why we love this
This arrangement carries genuine cultural significance without requiring your students to know cricket history to perform it meaningfully. The string voicing honors Parry's original hymnic character while giving young orchestras a chance to play something that sounds substantial and carries real ceremonial presence.
What to expect
Stately and reflective. The arrangement wraps Blake's visionary text in Parry's reverent harmonies, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and monumental. Students will feel the difference between playing notes and serving something larger than themselves.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 5-6 level looking for repertoire with historical resonance and ceremonial purpose. Directors seeking pieces that develop legato technique and ensemble cohesion without excessive technical barriers.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening phrases with long, sustained bows that allow the melody to breathe. The piece depends on legato singing across the strings, not on virtuosity.
- Balance the first violin line against the harmonic foundation in lower voices. This is not a melody-driven work where accompaniment recedes; every voice participates in the anthem's dignity.
- Observe the Grade 5-6 difficulty as a ceiling on technical demands but not on expressive maturity. Students should understand they are performing a national symbol, which often changes how they approach tone and precision.
- Take the tempo with a sense of processional inevitability rather than rushing. Blake's poetry carries weight, and so should the pacing.
How to use it
Consider this for an opening concert piece that sets a ceremonial or formal tone. It works equally well as a spring concert finale that acknowledges the ensemble's growth across the year. The F major key and straightforward structure also make it viable for early-season programming when technical demands must stay modest.
Skills your students will build
- Legato bowing across phrase lengths
- Balancing multiple voice lines of equal importance
- Intonation control in sustained harmonic contexts
- Phrasing and breathing as an ensemble unit
- Interpreting historical and cultural context through performance choice