One of the last official acts of the reign of George I
of Great Britain was to both naturalize George Frideric
Handel as a British citizen and to commission Handel to
write the coronation anthem for King George's son and
successor, George II.
As 1727 drew to a close, Britain had been enduring a
generation's worth of political and religious turmoil.
The union of Scotland and England was still tenuous at
best, with many Scots and English Catholics (Jacobites
by name) still supporting the...(+)
One of the last official acts of the reign of George I
of Great Britain was to both naturalize George Frideric
Handel as a British citizen and to commission Handel to
write the coronation anthem for King George's son and
successor, George II.
As 1727 drew to a close, Britain had been enduring a
generation's worth of political and religious turmoil.
The union of Scotland and England was still tenuous at
best, with many Scots and English Catholics (Jacobites
by name) still supporting the line of the deposed King
James II. When George I (of the House of Hanover)
assumed the throne in 1714, he was hardly popular -- he
spoke German and not English -- many Jacobites rose
against him and joined James in rebellion. The
rebellion was put down, but anti-Hanoverian sentiments
still ran strong.
George I looked to the Old Testament for a parallel to
his situation, and found one in 1 Kings. The Bible told
how King David of Israel, while nearing death was
facing his own succession crisis. After some
deliberation, he chose his son Solomon as his heir,
rather than Solomon's ambitious half-brother Adonijah.
In a grand ceremony, David's most trusted advisors,
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, annointed
Solomon as king. George feared another Jacobite
uprising (which nonetheless came in 1745), and wanted
to use the spectacle of his son's coronation to
establish George II as the legitimate ruler in the
public's eye.
Thus Handel was called upon to write an
appropriately-grandiose set of anthems for the
ceremony, and he didn't disappoint. Four anthems were
sung that day: The King Shall Rejoice, Let Thy Hand Be
Strengthened, My Heart Is Inditing and Zadok the
Priest, but it is the last that has endured.
Zadok the Priest was first sung during the annointing
of George II during his coronation on 11 October 1727.
It since has been sung at at every British coronation
since 1727, the only anthem from Handel's four to
endure the last three centuries. It is traditionally
performed during the sovereign's anointing.
Although originally created for Chorus (SS-AA-T-BB) and
orchestra (two oboes, two bassoons, three trumpets,
timpani, strings, continuo), I created this arrangement
for Concert (Pedal) Harp.
SHEET MUSIC