Details of King Charles III's coronation music have been revealed
They've been carefully chosen by His Majesty
Last updated 5th May 2023
On May 6th, 2023, the Coronation Service of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey.
What music will feature at His Majesty the King’s coronation?
The musical offerings at the Coronation Service on Saturday 6th May, have been carefully selected by His Majesty The King to fuse time-honoured customs with fresh perspectives and talents from throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The music will be directed by Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, who has overseen all arrangements.
The service will feature 12 brand new compositions from some of Britain's most distinguished composers, including a Coronation Anthem, 'Make a Joyful Noise,' by Andrew Lloyd Webber, a Coronation March by Patrick Doyle, a solo organ piece by Iain Farrington, and works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams, and Debbie Wiseman. Pretty Yende, a South African soprano, will perform Sarah Class's composition "Sacred Fire," which she wrote for His Majesty's Terra Carta environmental initiative.
The 'Be Thou my Vision - Triptych for Orchestra' is a musical masterpiece commissioned by His Majesty and inspired by one of his favourite hymns. This composition brings together three composers: Nigel Hess, Roderick Williams, and Shirley J Thompson, who each created a contemporary musical response to the Irish hymn.
The piece begins with a horn call inspired by the acoustics of Westminster Abbey, followed by a stirring rendition by the full orchestra. Roderick Williams' section is a slow and thoughtful rhapsody based on the Slane melody of the hymn, with a musical cryptogram of His Majesty's name embedded within it. Finally, Shirley J Thompson's section launches with sparkling fanfare, building to a triumphant and celebratory conclusion.
In keeping with tradition, composer Patrick Doyle has crafted the 'King Charles III Coronation March' to honour the life of His Majesty. The March is divided into distinct sections, each evoking a different emotion and reflecting aspects of the King's character. Beginning with a bold and ceremonial opening, the piece then moves forward with a strong Celtic influence, symbolising the passage of time.
The third part of the March is joyous and jubilant, before leading into a romantic and reflective sequence that builds to a triumphant finale. Doyle describes the composition as an Overture March and notes that it is meant to capture the excitement and celebration of this historic day.
Paul Mealor's 'Coronation Kyrie' will be sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, with the Choir giving the first-ever performance in Welsh at a Coronation. Additionally, Debbie Wiseman has been commissioned to create a two-part composition titled 'Alleluia (O Clap your Hands)' and 'Alleluia (O Sing Praises).' These pieces will be performed by the Westminster Abbey Choir and The Ascension Choir, the first gospel choir to sing at a Coronation.
Speaking about her compositions, Wiseman said: “The Coronation is a solemn religious ceremony and the natural inclination is to go for a reverential hymn-like approach, but I was keen to make this piece, above all, joyful and celebratory of the new King and the new era.
"Part of the liturgical text says “O sing unto God with the voice of melody” and when my melodies are sung by the wonderful voices of the world-renowned Choir of Westminster Abbey, I can’t absolutely confirm they’ll reach heaven but they’ll certainly raise the roof.”
Choral music will play a prominent role in the service, with performances by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, girl choristers from the Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast, and Truro Cathedral Choir, and The Ascension Choir. The pre-service program of classical music will be conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner and feature The Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists.
In addition, there will be solo performances by bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, soprano Pretty Yende, baritone Roderick Williams, and Official Royal Harpist Alis Huws. The specially selected musicians of the Coronation Orchestra, led by Sir Antonio Pappano, will include members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and The Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force will play fanfare during the service.
The liturgical sections of the ceremony will include Welsh and Greek Orthodox music performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble as a tribute to His Majesty's late father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The music at the Coronation Service is intended to embody The King's lifelong passion for music and the arts, blending tradition and innovation to create a memorable and inspiring experience.
See King Charles III's life in pictures
King Charles is born (1948)
Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor was born to then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on November 14th, 1948, as the couple's first child.
King Charles in 1952
When his grandfather George VI died and his mother ascended to the throne in 1952, Charles became the future heir of the monarchy at the age of four.
He also became the Duke of Cornwall. When he was 21, in 1969, he became entitled to the full income of the Duchy and took over its management.
Charles' childhood
Growing up, Charles went to a boarding school for his education, studying at Gordonstoun private school in the north-east of Scotland.
Charles' experience at the school helped to shape him, saying in an interview that he was glad to have attended.
King Charles at university
After finishing his A-Levels, Charles broke with royal tradition and went straight to university, where he obtained a 2:2 in a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge in 1970. This made Charles the first British heir to attain a university degree.
Investiture of the Prince of Wales
In 1969, the Investiture of the Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle, where Charles was crowned by the Queen as the Prince of Wales.
King Charles in the Navy
King Charles served in the Navy between 1971 to 1976. He trained as a Royal Air Force pilot and served on the frigate HMS Jupiter as part of its Pacific voyage.
King Charles and Diana (1981)
In 1981, Prince Charles married Diana Spencer in the most-watched television event at the time. Over 1 billion people looked on as the Prince and Princess of Wales made their wedding vows.
The marriage birthed Charles' only children - William and Harry, but would end in tragedy as the couple would divorce in 1992. Princess Diana would later die in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Prince William's first day at Eton College
The King and Princess of Wales and brother Prince Harry join Prince William for his first day at Eton College in September 1995.
Assassination attempt
Following his divorce from Diana, Charles continued to carry out royal duties. Whilst on a tour of Australia in 1994, King Charles was shot at twice by student David Kang.
David Kang was protesting about the treatment of Cambodian asylum seekers in Australia. Charles was not hurt and managed to dodge the bullet.
King Charles and Camilla
King Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, 13 years after his divorce from Diana. Because this was Charles' second marriage, he was unable to get married in a church and instead held a civil wedding. Charles' parents did not attend the ceremony, due to the Queen's role as head of the Church of England. Following their marriage, Camilla would go on to receive the title of 'Duchess of Cornwall'.
Media presence
Prince Charles has kept his life relatively private following his marriage to Camilla. The Prince rarely spoke to newspapers and occasionally appeared on television, in order to maintain his privacy.
However, Charles has tried his hand at a number of positions, including presenting the weather for BBC Scotland while on a trip to Glasgow in 2012.
Charity work
Over 40 years Prince Charles has set up 20 charities, he has been a keen supporter of charity work, setting up the Prince's Trust in 1976 to help vulnerable people get their life back on track.
Since then, Charles has been a vocal supporter of human rights, calling for more action against abuse worldwide. Most recently, the Prince commissioned a series of portraits of seven Holocaust survivors in early 2022.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort
Following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles immediately became King Charles III on 8th September.
In the days following his mother's death, he met members of the public with his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort.
On 10th September, an historic meeting at St James' Palace confirmed his role of King.
King Charles III delivers his first address to parliament
King Charles said he felt "the weight of history" as he addressed parliament for the first time as King, adding he vowed to follow the example set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.