Military Wives Choirs is delighted to announce that their latest song, ‘November Sunday’, is out now, honouring His Majesty The King’s birthday and reflecting the very close links between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family.
The song captures the hope and joy brought to post-war Britain on 14th November 1948 with the birth of the future King, linking to his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Its beautiful, lullaby-like tune has been recorded by 100 singers drawn from members of the Military Wives Choirs network in the UK and abroad, accompanied by The Band of the Household Cavalry.
For ‘November Sunday’, music & lyrics by John McLaren, platinum-selling producer Sean Hargreaves (Sigala, Paloma Faith, Ella Eyre), and arranger Steve Turner have brought together the evocative soundscape of the 1940s, the pomp and circumstance of The Band of the Household Cavalry, the largest regular military Band, and a bright, pop-influenced musicality and instrumentation to create a memorable track with cross-genre appeal.
The singers are conducted by the Military Wives Choirs’ Artistic Director, Hilary Davan Wetton, one of the country’s most renowned choral conductors, and The Band of the Household Cavalry by Major Craig Bywater.
Caroline Paxton, Chair of Trustees, said: “Our charity is founded on the principles of community and support; we do this through forging deep connections with one another through the power of singing.
“For our first recording since 2020 we wanted to celebrate the special relationship the Armed Forces enjoy with the Royal Family. ‘November Sunday’ is our own heartfelt gift to His Majesty and was inspired by our deep appreciation and admiration for his service to this nation.
“The song, with words and music by John McLaren, is set at the moment of the future King’s birth, echoing the joy the news brought to a country still recovering from war. It also pays tribute to his mother, the beloved late Queen Elizabeth II, who, like many members of our network, served in the Armed Forces and was also a military wife.
“Our intention is that the song will enter into the core repertoire for our network of 70 choirs across the UK and overseas and be performed regularly around this time of year. We hope The King will enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoy singing it.”
Producer Sean Hargreaves said: “When crafting the song, we were aiming for an emotional singer-songwriter feel, similar in approach to Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’, but expanded to a choir of a hundred voices rather than a solo artist.
“To achieve this, we had acoustic guitars in the foreground, arranged the rhythm section to ebb and flow, giving the arrangement plenty of space. This more modern feel complements John McLaren’s nostalgic lyrics beautifully.
“What sets this song apart is how we incorporated The Band of the Household Cavalry. Rather than the way military bands are traditionally heard, we showcased them in a more cinematic style – similar to how a band like Radiohead or a film score might use orchestration – to add depth and colour.”
‘November Sunday’ is available to listen, watch, and purchase now – find out more here.
