ONE of Elizabeth II’s maids of honour, Lady Willoughby de Eresby, in later years reflected on how, during the long coronation ceremony in 1953, ‘the power of music carried you through’. Matthias Range, author of the definitive study of this dimension to British coronations, agrees: ‘In the best examples, like 1953, the quality and variety of the music has underlined the significance of what’s going on at any one moment in the service, emphasising the structure of the occasion.’
Music will surely ‘carry us through’ on May 6. Our new King, who takes his music seriously, has personally shaped this dimension to the coronation, as have musical monarchs before him: at a rehearsal for the preposterously lavish 1821 coronation, the sharp-eared George IV insisted the balance of choral and orchestral forces be radically and rapidly revised.
In 2023, we can look forward to groundbreaking soundscapes that reflect changes in the character of British society and culture over 70 years. Diversity and inclusivity are watchwords, observable in the introduction of girl choristers and a gospel choir, plus a Welsh royal harpist, Alis Huws. Alongside classic repertoire by Byrd and Handel will be new items from, among others, Judith Weir (Master of the King’s Music) and Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose anthem will hopefully be a show-stopper. ‘Being true to tradition means not only tapping into the great inheritance of repertoire from the past, but ensuring the tradition of embracing change, which has always typified coronation music, is kept alive,’ observes Martin Neary, former Westminster Abbey Organist and Master of the Choristers.
Denne historien er fra April 26, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra April 26, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
