The Master of The King’s Music Judith Weir, Paul Mealor and Tarik O’Regan have been commissioned by The King to compose new pieces of music for The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort taking place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday May 6, 2023.
His Majesty The King has personally commissioned the composers, and has shaped and selected the musical programme for the Service, that will showcase musical talent from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. A range of musical styles and performers will blend tradition, heritage and ceremony with new musical voices of today, reflecting The King’s life-long love and support of music and the arts.
In total, six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission, have been specially composed for the occasion by world-renowned British composers whose work includes music in the Classical, Sacred, Film, Television and Musical Theatre genres.
Judith Weir comments: “Having, in the last year, written music for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and then for her State Funeral, The Coronation represents a very different, and inspiring challenge. It’s wonderful that new music will feature prominently during this great occasion.”
“It is truly a great honour and privilege to be a part of this historical occasion”, says Paul Mealor. “I am deeply grateful to have been given this wonderful opportunity by His Majesty following on from a number of previous occasions where I have written for both His Majesty and Her Majesty The Queen Consort."
“Given my own and my family’s diverse background from across many countries and heritages, I’m truly delighted to provide a musical voice from this perspective for The Coronation Service, an event of international interest”, says Tarik O’Regan.
Further details will be announced alongside the full music programme in early May 2023.
For more details about the Service, see here.
Enquiries to Kate Johnson Promotion & Communications Director, Wise Music Group.
