The Golden Solstice sets the words of poet George Mackay Brown, who spent his life in Orkney and was a close friend of the composer.
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The islands served as the main base for the Royal Navy during the World War I and will be the major focal point for the anniversary ceremony.
It involved 250 ships – 151 British and 99 German – and upwards of 100,000 men, more than 8,500 of whom lost their lives.
The Princess Royal will represent the Royal family at the memorial at St Magnus Cathedral, where thousands of ceramic poppies have been installed in tribute.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant, Donald Wilson, said: “It has been a proud moment for me to stand alongside the ancestors of those who fought and died for their country to commemorate the Battle of Jutland”.
1,266 people died aboard the battle cruiser HMS Queen Mary alone.
It had embarked from Wilhelmshaven toward Norway in a bid to break a British North Sea blockade as land war raged in France and German and food rations dwindled.
Earlier, the Duke had written a message saying the commemorations were to remember the “endurance and gallantry” of everyone who took part.
“This cemetery is a place where sailors buried their comrades, where they honoured their own”.
The diary is part of London’s Imperial War Museum’s collection, and includes a good description of the reception and treatment of British casualties after the Battle of Jutland. “But there are German graves here too – former enemies now united and at peace”.
There was also information and a copy of the Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to 16-years-old Jack Cornwell, the third youngest-ever recipient of the honour, for his gallant actions during the battle. He died later in hospital in England.
Hard on the heels of Jutland, and barely a week later, another three Bridport sailors lost their lives when HMS Hampshire was lost just west of the Orkney Islands on June 5, 1916.
Mr Saridis said: “What he did is an wonderful thing, and at such a young age”.
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“It is also incredibly touching that, 100 years on, people from all over Scotland and Germany have come together to remember this shared piece of WW1 history in Queensferry”.
