The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla

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All Coronation Services are a mixture of deep-rooted tradition and contemporary innovation. 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. Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey since 1066. It has been a privilege to collaborate with His Majesty in choosing fine musicians and accessible, communicative music for this great occasion. Sir Antonio Pappano (Music Director, Royal Opera House & Conductor of the Coronation Orchestra) said:

Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen

The ceremony will feature a range of musical styles and performers, blending tradition, heritage and ceremony with the new musical voices of today to reflect the King's life-long support of music and the arts. Decca Classics is thrilled to announce that The Official Album of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla is now available.

Under the baton of Andrew Nethsingha, the service was sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, together with girl choristers from the Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast and from Truro Cathedral Choir. Italian maestro Sir Antonio Pappano, who is music director at the Royal Opera House, conducted the Coronation Orchestra, a blend of musicians from orchestras of the former Prince of Wales’ Patronages including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra and Welsh National Opera Orchestra. The most recent song on the playlist is Sam Ryder's "Space Man." He came in second in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, right after the Ukrainian entry. Since the winning country will not be able to host the event because of the war,the popular music competitionwill be thereforeheld in the UK this year. A royal visit to the European Song Contest stage, to be held in Liverpool this year Image: Phil Noble/AP/picture alliance Too few Commonwealth countries Mealor’s ‘Coronation Kyrie’ was the first Welsh language work to be performed at a Coronation. On the ground-breaking piece, Mealor said: “It is a cry from the deep soul of the hills and valleys of Wales for hope, peace, love and friendship.” Andrew Nethsingha, Westminster Abbey Choir, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir

Coronation | The Royal Family The Coronation | The Royal Family

Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force (trumpet), The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury (spoken word), The Right Honourable Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE KC (spoken word), Christopher Finney GC (spoken word), The Right Honourable The Baroness Amos LG CH (spoken word) Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force (trumpet), The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury (spoken word), His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (spoken word), The Congregation of Westminster Abbey (spoken word), Peter Holder (organ) Music by the likes of William Byrd (1543–1623), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1934), Sir Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941), Sir William Walton (1902–1983), Sir Hubert Parry (1848–1918) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) has historically featured in the Service over the past four centuries and will be included in the programme along with the music of one of Britain’s most loved and celebrated living composers, Sir Karl Jenkins. On their involvement in the Ceremony: Andrew Nethsingha (Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey) said: Music by much-loved English composers Byrd, Handel, Elgar, Walton, Parry, Vaughan Williams and Sir Henry Walford Davies has historically featured at coronations over the past four centuries, and was included in the service.She also worked on the wedding of the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018. In tribute to his late father Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the King’s own request the Byzantine Chant Ensemble performed Greek Orthodox music during the service. Music by Purcell and Gibbons, both organists at Westminster Abbey, and Latin rites from Tallis and his pupil Byrd – a Catholic who served under the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I – are reminders of where we’ve come from, with King Charles declaring ‘I am a faithful Protestant’ and, for the first time at a coronation, pledging to serve every faith and belief. His words are all captured here. His Majesty the King commissioned twelve new pieces of music for his coronation: six orchestral, five choral and one organ commission, all from world-renowned British composers.