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| ....... on May 6th, 2023 |
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| Music for the Coronation of King Charles ........ |
Although I am not a Royalist; in fact, not at all, the occurrence of a Coronation is a notable event and an extraordinary opportunity to present a highly-accomplished feat of organisation and British talent; an upmarket shop window to offset the recent distressing examples of British muddle and bad decision-making. Available to watch online, it will be watched by millions and although I had decided that I almost certainly would not be watching, chiefly out of disinterest although intending to catch snippets of the ceremony online. However, having researched the music and the eminent and widely varied musicians on call, I may well change my mind!
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| Andrew Lloyd Webber |
BUT I am interested in the music of The Day and delighted at the apparent care which has been extended in the choice of music, of performers, and of the contribution of specially-written pieces. Charles and his advisors seem to have caught the national mood of inclusivity with nods to the Commonwealth, the four countries of the U.K. and a wide range of popular entertainers.
Charles has, impressively, commissioned twelve new pieces; six orchestral, five choral and one organ, all from world-renowned British composers. Andrew Lloyd-Webber has composed a new Coronation Anthem; Scottish film composer, Patrick Doyle [Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire] has contributed a Coronation March; Iain Farrington’s solo organ incorporates musical themes from across the Commonwealth, plus there are new
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| Patrick Doyle |
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| Andrew Nethsinga, Organist & Master of the Choristers |
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| Westminster Abbey Choir |
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| Debbie Wiseman Composer in Residence, Classic F.M. |
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| Byzantine Chant Ensemble |
Andrew Nethsinga, organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey will direct the music and oversee all musical arrangements. Italian maestro, Sir Antonio Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera House, will conduct the Coronation Orchestra which will comprise performers from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras associated with the patronage of the King when Prince of Wales. The list of professional musician to be associated with the forthcoming Coronation reads like a dream list!! The choirs of Westminster Abbey, of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal plus the girl choristers of the Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast and of Truro’s Cathedral Choir. A hand-picked Gospel Choir, The Ascension Choir, will perform as will the Royal Harpist, Alis Huws who, with the recital of one of the liturgical sections of the ceremony to be performed in Welsh, will acknowledge the King’s long-standing relationship with Wales. In a nod to Prince Philip, the Byzantine Chant Ensemble will perform Greek Orthodox music during the service.
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| Girl choristers of the Chapel Choir of the Methodist College, Belfast. |
John Eliot Gardiner will lead the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque in a pre-service programme of choral music. Fanfares will be played by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force while the great Abbey organ will be played by the sub-organist, Peter Holder, and assistant organist, Matthew Jorysz.
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| Alys Huws, Royal Harpist |
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| John Eliot Gardiner with the Monteverdi Choir |
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| Bryn Terfel Leading bass-baritone |
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| Andrew Pappano Musical Director, the Royal Opera House |
This panoply of the musical Good and the Great, is incredibly impressive and influential. The breadth of musical offerings and talent, while serving to grace the actual Coronation itself, is also aimed at impressing the world.
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| Byzantine musical manuscript 1433 Choral Music of Oriental Christianity Pantokratoros Monastery |
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