Anything catch your ear during Charles’ coronation? Here’s a user-friendly itemization of composers, compositions, commissions, and clips. However, to hear how it all actually came off, you will have to employ your Google skills. Good luck finding video without someone blathering over the music.
Performers include Bryn Terfel, Pretty Yende, Roderick Williams, John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, Antonio Pappano and musicians of the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, and Royal Opera House Orchestras, and Royal Harpist Alis Huws.
New works by Patrick Doyle, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Master of the King’s Music Judith Weir join old favorites by George Frideric Handel and William Walton. In all, twelve new works were commissioned for the ceremony.
According to the article, in a historic first, the complete coronation will be recorded and released as an album on the very day of the ceremony.
Tomorrow looks to be all pop pap for the populace. You can learn more about the longhair stuff here.
The Queen’s gone platinum! Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England on this date in 1953. In 2015, she became England’s longest-reigning monarch. Celebrations of her 70th year on the throne are underway.
Regardless of what one personally thinks of monarchy, the royals have been responsible for commissioning a rich diadem of music, from some of England’s most respected composers.
Here’s an Elizabeth miscellany. In the coronation marches, especially, you will hear a lot of John Williams. Vivat Regina Elizabetha!
Sir Edward Elgar, “Nursery Suite” (1930), dedicated to Princesses Margaret (newly born) and Elizabeth, and also to their mother, the Duchess of York. (Incidentally, today is also Elgar’s birthday!)
Eric Coates, “The Three Elizabeths” (1944): “Halcyon Days” (Elizabeth I), “Springtime in Angus” (The Queen Mother), and “Youth of Britain – The Princess Elizabeth”
Sir Arnold Bax, “Morning Song: Maytime in Sussex” (1946), for Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday
Sir Arthur Bliss, “Processional” (1953), performed before the Coronation Service
Sir William Walton, “Orb and Sceptre” (1953), also before the Coronation Service
Ralph Vaughan Williams, “O Taste and See” (1953), for the Coronation Service
Herbert Howells, “Behold O God Our Defender” (composed on Christmas Day, 1952), for the Coronation Service
Sir William Walton, “Coronation Anthem” (1953)
Sir Arnold Bax, “Coronation March” (1953), after the Coronation Service
