King Charles’s Coronation Service to Feature a Gospel Choir and a Musical Tribute to Prince Philip
When Buckingham Palace announced the first details of King Charles’s Coronation, they were keen to emphasise that the traditional ceremony will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future.” And now, further details of the music for the occasion have been released; a key element that gives greater insight into how the Palace intends for the day to look (and sound).
“A range of musical styles and performers blend tradition, heritage and ceremony with new musical voices of today, reflecting the King’s life-long love and support of music and the arts,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Twelve newly-commissioned pieces composed and performed by a diverse range of artists will feature alongside traditional works. Among the singers will be a “handpicked gospel choir” known as the The Ascension Choir. And, at the King's request, Greek Orthodox music will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble in tribute to Prince Philip, who was born on the Greek island of Corfu as a Prince of Greece and Denmark.
Musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been commissioned to create a new Coronation Anthem. However, celebrated Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest by George Frederic Handel, which has been performed at every coronation since King George II's in 1727, will still be played. “The King has personally commissioned the new music and shaped and selected the musical programme for the Service,” the Palace said.
The official royal harpist, Alis Huws, will also perform with the orchestra, which the Palace said was “in recognition of The King’s long-standing and deeply held relationship and affiliation with Wales.” Soloists will include bass-baritone, Sir Bryn Terfel; soprano, Pretty Yende and baritone, Roderick Williams. The Choirs of Westminster Abbey, the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, Methodist College Belfast, Truro Cathedral, Westminster School, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists will sing. Fanfares will be played by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force.
"All Coronation Services are a mixture of deep-rooted tradition and contemporary innovation," organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, Andrew Nethsingha, who will be overseeing all musical arrangements, said in a statement. “As was the case in the four twentieth-century Coronations, the choice of music reflects the cultural breadth of the age in which we live…it has been a privilege to collaborate with His Majesty in choosing fine musicians and accessible, communicative music for this great occasion.”
The Palace has not yet announced what time the Coronation will start on May 6 or how long it will last for. Previous coronations, including Queen Elizabeth’s, lasted for around three hours, but there has been much speculation that this one could be shorter. However, despite suggestions that events may be more low-key than in 1953, the Palace recently announced a three-day weekend of events including pageantry, musical performances, street parties, drone displays and illuminations.
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