A rarely-performed anthem, recently discovered in the Blenheim archives, forms the centrepiece of this weekend’s concert by the Woodstock Music Society, tying in neatly with the Woodstock@900 celebrations.

When Saul was King over us was written by Italian composer Giovanni Bononcini in 1722 for the funeral of his employer, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, in Westminster Abbey, and was scored for choir, orchestra and four soloists. Since then, the piece has faded into obscurity. Although Bononcini is little heard of today, he was a popular composer of his time. He arrived in London in 1720, and quickly established himself as a rival to Handel. It is thought the Dean of Westminster chose Bononcini to write the funeral anthem because he supported the Jacobites, while Handel was associated with the Hanoverian court. The grandeur of the funeral, as befitted the hero of the Battle of Blenheim, meant that this was a huge honour for the composer.

Paul Ingram, who has been music director of the Woodstock Music Society since 1983, says: “There are several examples of the manuscript elsewhere, but I was given access to a copy in the archives of the Duke of Marlborough, and reconstructed the parts from that. It fits well into our programme of music by two other contemporaries of Bononcini – J.S. Bach and Vivaldi. “We think the connection with Blenheim is particularly appropriate, as this year Woodstock celebrates its 900th anniversary since the founding of the Royal Park. This is our first contribution to the celebrations; in July we will be performing Elgar’s The Banner of St George.”

Bononcini’s piece can be heard alongside Bach’s Cantata 190 and Orchestral Suite No.3 in D, and Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus. The concert takes place tomorrow and on at St Mary Magdalene Church, Woodstock, at 7.30pm. For tickets, call 01865 721644 or visit wmsoc@btinternet.com. For more on Woodstock’s 900th anniversary, visit www.woodstock-tc.gov.uk or www.wakeuptowoodstock.com/cp1.php