Coronation anthem
Under Coronation Anthems ( " Coronation Anthems" ) are now in general that was composed in 1727 by George Frideric Handel works understood. This is a work commissioned by the British King George II to the coronation, consisting priest from the four parts of Zadok the, Let thy hand be Strengthened, The king Shall rejoice and My heart is inditing. Each hymn was originally published separately until they were all together in a band later. They were listed on October 11, 1727 during the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. The use of the term " hymn" as a translation is misleading and is neither the musical / textual form, nor the liturgical function meet. As unusual and strange as it may seem at first glance, one should choose as a translation but " Coronation Anthem", since the Anglican church music comes into its own separate genre.
Parts
Anthem I: Zadok the priest
This hymn in D Major is probably the best known of the Coronation Anthems. It takes a little more than five minutes. The text from the first Book of Kings (Chapter 1, verses 39-40 EU) reported by the anointing of Solomon by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, and the cheers of the people.
Anthem II: Let thy hand be Strengthened
Text from Psalm 89 (verses 13-14 EU). The anthem is composed of three parts: a light, cheerful beginning in G major, a moody, slow middle section in E minor and an Alleluia closing part again in G major.
Anthem III: The king Shall rejoice
The text of Psalm 21 (verses 1-3, 5 EU ) reports of the conversion through the good and blessings of being crowned as king with a crown of pure gold. The anthem is composed of four parts. In the ceremonial first section in D major, the joy of the King of God's power is sung, in the gentle second part in A Major his joy about God's salvation. The third section begins with a radiant D major chord of the chorus, which opens into an H -minor fugue. The fourth section is as in the second anthem Alleluia final part in D major.
Anthem IV: My heart is inditing
Text from Psalm 45 (verses 1, 10, 12 EU) and the Book of Isaiah ( chapter 49, verse 23 EU). Of the four parts of the anthem of the first in D major is alternately sung by a solo choir and the large choir. The second part in A Major is about the princesses among the " lover ", that is, the concubines, the king and thus praises the political fate of the king who linked by numerous " marriages" links to other princely houses. ( The English translation of the Hebrew text speaks of "honorable women" - "honorable women ". ) In the third section gentle in E Major, the Queen is sung in the golden robe. You, which is "bride" or " wife " in contrast to the concubines that which must be on official occasions next to the king. The solemn closing part in D major (after Isa. 49.23 ) contains the promise of God that kings and queens nursing fathers and mothers ( nurses ) of the people will be (Israel). This can be read as an obligation of winning the pair to act for the good of the people.
Order
The order of the various parts is controversial. Within the coronation ceremonies first rang Let thy hand be Strengthened, then the priest Zadok the anointing, then The king Shall rejoice for the coronation and finally My heart is inditing for the coronation of the Queen ( Caroline of Ansbach ). The opening sentence of this last piece is Handel's skill to develop from simple musical material, a complex and sublime set. Today is Zadok the priest, when played as part of the Coronation Anthems, at the beginning. Sometimes the second and third anthem be interchanged.
Aftermath
Zadok the priest has been used since 1727 at every coronation of a British monarch, most recently in 1953. Moreover, this Anthem was the composer Tony Britten in 1992 as a basis for the arrangement of the well-known anthem of the UEFA Champions League.
"Coronation Anthems" by other composers
"Coronation Anthem " means no independent musical genre or even exclusively the pieces that Handel composed for the coronation of George II. An illustrious series of English composers before and after Handel has delivered significant works on the recurring occasion of the coronation of an English / British monarch. The sounding during the coronation ceremonies Anthems (whether plainchant or figuraliter ) include not only the four above-mentioned pieces, but a much larger number, beginning with that of the procession at the beginning of the coronation ceremonies (usually heard here, " Oh Lord, grant the King a long live "). Overall, up to twelve repeatedly used text in the resulting coronation forms can be observed. Among the most famous composer of anthems for the coronation services include Henry Purcell, John Blow, and Thomas Attwood, a not insignificant pupil of Mozart, who had the good fortune to the coronations George IV and William IV works contribute, namely 1820 "I was glad" and ten years later, " Oh grant the King a long life". About the composition of another anthems for the coronation of Queen Victoria died Attwood 1838.
Purcell's " Coronation Anthems" (including "I was Glad " and "My Heart is inditing " ) are now also available in different recordings, as well as the reconstruction of the whole coronation ceremonies for George II, in the sound even older Coronation Anthems.