This article was written for the August 2023 issue of our parish magazine, as part of a series about coronatoin anthems. Based on Psalm 34:8, this anthem was composed for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was also sung at her funeral last year. The text is: This motet is considered short … More O Taste and See – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
This article was written for the July 2023 issue of our parish magazine. Parry wrote this setting of Psalm 122 for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 and revised it for King George V in 1911. It has been used at the coronation of every British monarch ever since. Prior to that, “Laetatus … More I was Glad – Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1948-1918)
This article was written for the Juje 2023 issue of our parish magazine. Here it is for you again. Last month saw the coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey – over 70 years since the last time such an event happened on our shores. The music was fabulous, and got me thinking about … More Zadok the Priest – G F Handel (1685-1759)
Sometimes described as a “Marmite” composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber is famous as a composer of songs for musical theatre, beginning with “Joseph” in 1968, and still going strong with “Cinderella” in 2021. Not an obvious choice to compose a new choral anthem for the coronation of King Charles III … More Make a Joyful Noise – Andrew Lloyd Webber (b.1948)
Earlier this year the Royal School of Church Music launched “Sing for the King”, an open invitation to all choirs throughout the UK to join in song to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. Joanna Forbes l’Estrange, arguably the RSCM’s best-selling successful composer, was commissioned to compose the anthem for this project: “The Mountains Shall Bring Peace” … More The Mountains Shall Bring Peace – Joanna Forbes l’Estrange (b.1971)
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 