Handel, G.F. (1685-1759) - Coronation Anthems (1) - Zadok the priest - The Sixteen

'Zadok the priest' is one of four anthems composed by George Frideric Handel using texts from the King James Bible, to be played at the coronation of the British monarch since 1727.


* Zadok the priest


The Sixteen
Conducted by Harry Christophers

BBC Proms

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Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759)

George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, and concertos. Handel was born in Germany in the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti. He received critical musical training in Italy before settling in London and becoming a naturalised British subject. His works include Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks. He was strongly influenced by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.

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The Coronation Anthems

The Coronation Anthems are four anthems composed by George Frideric Handel using texts from the King James Bible, to be played at the coronation of the British monarch. They are Zadok the Priest, My Heart Is Inditing, The King Shall Rejoice and Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened (HWV 261). Each was originally a separate work but they were later published together.

One of George I of Great Britain's last acts before his death in 1727 was to sign an "Act of naturalisation of George Frideric Händel and others". His first commission from Handel as a newly-naturalised British subject was to write the music for the coronation of George II of England and Queen Caroline which took place on 11 October the same year. Within the coronation ceremonies Let thy hand be strengthened was played first, then Zadok, then The King shall rejoice, and finally My heart is inditing at the coronation of the Queen. (In modern coronations the order is Zadok, Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice and My heart is inditing, with the order of Let thy hand be strengthened and The King shall rejoice sometimes reversed.)

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Music

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• Handel
• Coronation Anthems
• Zadok the priest
• The Sixteen
• Georg Friedrich
• Opera
• Music
• Baroque
• Chorus
• Choral
• BBC Proms