29. Wren 300 Concert Finale, Raising the Roof, 21 September 2023


The Lady Mayoress, Aldermen and Livery Companies were invited to a concert in the Guildhall with over 200 children from the City of London family of schools and their families and friends.  It was the culmination of a year-long project launched in collaboration between the City of London, the Diocese of London and St Paul’s Cathedral.  Pupils had visited St Stephen Walbrook, St James Garlickhythe and St Paul’s Cathedral, and created an art piece and written poetry.

The concert featured Wren-inspired songs written and composed by Richard Quesnel, Director of Music, City Schools.  They celebrated Wren’s achievements as a mathematician, architect and designer.  Where else would you get a verse including cantenary curve, Y equals a cosh x over a! The lyrics of other songs drew from historical facts, street names and famous London landmarks, and the beat of footsteps through London.  We also had a poem by George Herbert set to music and a song based on Wen’s epitaph Si monumentum requieres circumspice.

It was very apparent that the children loved the songs, and so did the audience.

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