For the occasion of the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline, which took place in Westminster Abbey on October 11, 1727, Handel wrote four splendid anthems and personally supervised their performance which was, according to all reports, one of great magnificence. The four anthems were enthusiastically received, and one or more of them has been performed at every British coronation since 1727. Anthem #2 ('The King Shall Rejoice'), although less well-known than Anthem #1, is an equally splendid example of Handel's ceremonial style - what Burney has affectionately termed his 'big bow-bow manner'. This work contains an opening Allegro, brilliant and elegant rather than pompous - a grandiose setting of 'Glory and great worship hast thou laid upon him' - and a lively fugal Alleluia as a conclusion. Arranged for four-part chorus of mixed voices with organ or piano accompaniment. Edited and with keyboard reduction by Edouard Silas. / Chant Et Piano
SKU: HL.14014194
8.25x11.75x0.425 inches.
Written for SATB choir and orchestra.
SKU: OU.9780193352599
ISBN 9780193352599. 12 x 9 inches.
These four splendid anthems were composed for the coronation of George II in October 1727 and have since retained a position at the heart of the English choral tradition. The popular anthem Zadok the Priest has been performed at all subsequent coronations, and Handel's other contributions to the royal occasion - Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice, and My heart is inditing - have the same majestic grandeur, with affecting contrasts between different sections of the sacred texts. The editor, Clifford Bartlett, has corrected various inconsistencies in Handel's score, and complete details of sources and editorial method, additional performance notes, and a critical commentary are included.
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These truly versatile and user-friendly editions offer a practical approach for performers, informed by the very highest standard of scholarship. - Fresh editions by the very best scholars in their field - Clean and clear page layout - Compositions spanning the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries - Choral works with a wide range of scorings, from small chamber group to full orchestra - Informative prefaces included in most of the vocal scores - Playable keyboard reductions for rehearsal
