I watched the Coronation ceremony with a keen ear for the music performed. I wonder which of the various new pieces I’ll be asked to sing first? (My money’s on Tarik O’Regan’s.)
British coronations have been over recent centuries been quite a source of good pieces for the repertoire. Some personal favourites from the less obvious ones:
- Purcell, I was glad (which I sang at Bath Abbey the day after this one)
- Elgar, O hearken Thou
- Vaughan Williams, O taste and see
- Howells, Behold O God our defender
Commissions for recent royal weddings haven’t fared so well. I think you have to go back to Mathias’ Let the people praise thee O God (for Charles and Diana) to find one that’s really stuck.