Variations on God Save the Queen, for Chamber Orchestra. By Stephen Gamble.

In 2022 I wrote a set of variations for string quartet on the National anthem to mark the Queen's Jubilee Celebrations. At that time I was off work with a long term illness, but I wanted to contribute to the celebrations. The Variations were the work of an afternoon, because that was all I was strong enough to do. These Variations became the most watched music video on my YouTube channel, so I thought I would have a go at rewriting them with more care. When I looked at the score I realised I had written the music in a way that would suit a string orchestra, and I then realised I could add brass and wind instruments.

Also, since writing the Variations for String Quartet, Queen Elizabeth has died, and King Charles III has become the British Monarch. So I have added a couple of variations that in some small way reflect my feelings about these events, one may say that the Variations start out as 'God save the Queen', but end as 'God save the King'.

Published on the 3rd anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's death.

Instrumentation - Orchestral Strings, Horns, Trumpets, Flutes, Oboes.

G major.