Zadok the Priest

Zadok the Priest (HWV 258) is a coronation anthem composed by George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) 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.

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

• The UEFA Champions League Anthem, which introduces worldwide television coverage of the event and is played during pre-game ceremonies at each match, is based on this composition. It is regularly (sometimes daily) played by request on 'popular classics' radio stations in the UK such as Classic FM.
• Miss Mary Elizabeth Donaldson used this piece when she walked down the aisle to her wedding with Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at Copenhagen Cathedral on 14 May 2004.
• The music is used ironically in the film of Alan Bennett's play The Madness of King George, in the scene in which the king is first restrained and taken to an asylum, and then again over the closing credits. (The track is called He Will Be Restrained on the soundtrack CD.)
• Provided the opening theme for the television series Royal Heritage (1977), a survey of Britain's royal builders and collectors.
• Heard on television coverage of the coronation of Elizabeth II in the film Prick Up Your Ears, coinciding with the first sexual encounter between playwright Joe Orton (played by Gary Oldman) and his lover Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina).
• Accompanies the presentation by Santa Claus of the gift of a crane shot to an inebriated Johnny LaRue at the end of the second season of Second City Television.
• Used in P&O Cruises adverts and commercials on television.
• Used in the climactic scene in the Australian movie Crackerjack to dramatically highlight a lawn bowl as it rolled down the green in slow motion.
• Used in the coronation scene of the 2003 film Johnny English.
• Used during the final dramatic scene of the 2005 film Breakfast on Pluto.
• Used in the coronation scene of Queen Victoria in the 2009 film The Young Victoria.

Notes

External links

• Coronation Anthems: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
• Free scores of this work in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• The Coronation of King George II: sleeve notes from Hyperion recording (login required)