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Zadok the Priest

 
Music Encyclopedia: Zadok the Priest
 

The best-known of the four coronation anthems written by Handel for the coronation of George II at Westminster Abbey in 1727; it has been sung at every British coronation since.



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Zadok the Priest (HWV 258) is a coronation anthem composed by George Frideric Handel (16851759) using texts from the King James Bible. It is one of the four Coronation Anthems that Handel composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain in 1727.[1] and has been sung at every subsequent British coronation service. It is traditionally performed during the sovereign's anointing.

Contents

Text

Although they have been part of the traditional content of British coronations, the texts for all four anthems were picked by Handel himself—much to the consternation of the participating clergy. It is believed that Handel made a personal selection from the most accessible account of an earlier coronation, that of James II of England in 1685. Though the text derives from the biblical account of the anointing of Solomon, it is not a direct quote, but a paraphrase, possibly by the composer himself.

Full text

After 1 Kings 1:38–40

Zadok, the Priest and Nathan, the Prophet anointed Solomon King.
And all the people rejoic'd, and said:
'God save The King, long live The King, may The King live for ever!
Amen, Hallelujah!'

Structure

Zadok the Priest is written for SS-AA-T-BB chorus and orchestra (two oboes, two bassoons, three trumpets, timpani, strings, continuo). The music prepares a surprise in its orchestral introduction, through the use of static layering of soft string textures, followed by a sudden rousing forte tutti entrance, augmented by three trumpets.

The middle section "And all the people rejoic'd, and said" is an imitatory dance in 3/4 time, mainly with the choir singing chordally and a dotted rhythm in the strings.

The final section "God save the King, etc" is a return to common time (4/4), with the "God Save the King" section heard chordally, interspersed with the Amens incorporating long semiquaver runs which are taken in turn through the six voice parts (SAATBB) with the other parts singing quaver chords accompanying it. The chorus ends with a largo Baroque cadence on "Alleluia".

Other uses

Notes

  1. ^ The other Coronation Anthems Handel composed are: The King Shall Rejoice, My Heart is Inditing and Let thy Hand be Strengthened.

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Music Encyclopedia. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Zadok the Priest" Read more