Andrew Lloyd Webber Writes Anthem for King Charles III’s Coronation – Billboard

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the English composer who created the scores for blockbuster musicals resembling Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Evita, has written the anthem for King Charles III’s coronation, adapting a chunk of church music that encourages singers to make a “joyful noise.”

The work by Webber is certainly one of a dozen new items Charles commissioned for the grand event going down May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It consists of phrases tailored from Psalm 98 and is scored particularly for the abbey’s choir and organ.

“I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion,” Webber mentioned in an announcement distributed by Buckingham Palace.

The program for the king’s coronation ceremony consists of older music and new compositions because the palace seeks to mix conventional and trendy components that replicate the realities of recent Britain. New items had been composed by artists with roots in all 4 of the United Kingdom’s constituent nations, in addition to within the Commonwealth and international nations which have despatched so many individuals to its shores.

The service will embody works by William Byrd (1543–1623), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), Edward Elgar (1857–1934), Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941), William Walton (1902–1983), Hubert Parry (1848–1918) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958), whose music has featured in earlier coronations, together with a chunk from the up to date Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.

There may even be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O’Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J. Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams and Debbie Wiseman.

“The decision to combine old and new reflects the cultural breadth of the age in which we live,” mentioned Andrew Nethsingha, the organist and grasp of choristers at Westminster Abbey.

“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,” Nethsingha mentioned.

In all, six orchestral commissions, 5 choral commissions and one organ fee — spanning the classical, sacred, movie, tv and musical theater genres — had been created for the coronation.

The program may even embody private touches, together with a musical tribute to Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, who was born a Greek prince. The new monarch requested Greek Orthodox music, which will likely be carried out by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.

Though specifics on a few of the materials are being saved underneath wraps, one hymn will certainly be a part of the service: Handel’s “Zadok the Priest.”

The hymn, with its strong refrain of “God Save the King,” has been performed at each coronation because it was commissioned for the coronation of King George II in 1727.