King of glory, King of peace

Commissioned by King’s School, Bruton, to mark the school’s 500th anniversary, King of glory, King of peace is Alexander L’Estrange’s triumphant setting of the George Herbert poem (for SATB and organ). The dichotomy of reigning both in glory and in peace is first represented by the glorious, rhythmical organ motif and second by the more peaceful chord sequences concluding verses 1 and 3. Far from competing with one another, the two styles reign with equal importance.