[Cover graphic]

2 Compact Discs CDA67286

2 DSD Stereo SACDs SACDA67286

(for the price of one)

£13.99
£16.99

Crowning The King's Consort's celebrations of its twenty-first birthday and its millionth CD sale for Hyperion, comes a truly spectacular reconstruction, that of the Coronation of King George II in Westminster Abbey in 1727. Complete with ringing trumpet fanfares sounding from all corners of the venue, dramatic drum processions up and down the aisles, shouts of acclamation from a huge cast, pealing church bells (especially recorded at historic churches and cathedrals across England and Wales), and some of the greatest of all ceremonial music, this two-for-the-price-of-one disc is a spectacular musical and sonic tour-de-force.

The music is fronted by Handel's four great Coronation Anthems, including Zadok the Priest (so striking at its first 1727 hearing that it has been performed at every Coronation ever since), alongside splendid coronation music by Henry Purcell, John Blow, William Child, John Farmer, Thomas Tallis and Orlando Gibbons.

The CD was recorded in Sony's revolutionary new "Sonoma" one-bit, DSD format, and is available in both conventional CD and the stunning new "surround-sound" SACD format.

Recorded in St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, on 3-7 February 2001
Church bells recorded on 28-30 May and 17 June 2001 by Julia Thomas
Recording Engineer
PHILIP HOBBS
Assistant Engineer
ANDREW HALLIFAX
Recording Producer
BEN TURNER
SACD and CD Mixing
JONATHAN STOKES (Classic Sound)
Post-production
JULIA THOMAS (Finesplice)
Front Design
TERRY SHANNON
Booklet Editor
ELEANOR WILSON
Executive Producers
EDWARD PERRY
SIMON PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMI

Duration: 100'47
DDD
Front illustration: George II in Coronation Robes (c1727). Studio of Charles Jervas (1675?-1739)

The Coronation of King George II

THE KING'S CONSORT
CHOIR OF THE KING'S CONSORT
ROBERT KING director

Contents:

COMPACT DISC 1 – [41'04]

  1. Tolling bell of Westminster Abbey [0'49]

    The Preparations

  2. Trumpet fanfare [0'39]
  3. Drum procession [1'32]
  4. Vivat [0'05]
  5. Trumpet fanfare [0'26]
  6. O Lord, grant the King a long life   WILLIAM CHILD (1606-1697) [1'40]

    The Procession

  7. A Grand Instrumental Procession   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759) [5'12]

    The Entrance

  8. I was glad when they said unto me   HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695) [4'33]

    The Recognition

  9. God save King George [0'53]
  10. Trumpet fanfare [0'14]
  11. Let thy hand be strengthened   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [9'02]

    The Litany

  12. O God, the Father of Heaven   THOMAS TALLIS (c1505-1585) [6'51]

    The Anointing

  13. Come Holy Ghost   JOHN FARMER (fl1591-1601) [3'00]
  14. Zadok the Priest   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [5'59]
COMPACT DISC 2 – [59'43]
    The Investiture
  1. Trumpet fanfare [0'27]
  2. Behold, O God, our defender   JOHN BLOW (1649-1708) [2'03]

    The Crowning

  3. Trumpet fanfare [0'25]
  4. God save the King [0'13]
  5. The King shall rejoice   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [11'34]

    Te Deum

  6. Te Deum (from The Second Service)   ORLANDO GIBBONS (1583-1625) [10'42]

    The Inthronisation

  7. Trumpet fanfare [0'27]

    The Homage

  8. God spake sometime in visions   JOHN BLOW [13'18]
  9. Drums [0'21]
  10. Trumpet fanfare [0'24]
  11. God save King George [0'14]

    The Coronation of the Queen

  12. My heart is inditing   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [12'55]

    The Recessional

  13. Trumpet fanfare [0'12]
  14. March   GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL [1'45]
  15. Trumpet fanfare [0'36]
  16. Drum procession [1'25]
  17. The bells of London [2'29]
Sleeve Notes

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

'A reconstruction, complete with a plethora of fanfares, drum processions, schoolboys shouting 'Vivat Rex!', and a great deal of bell clanging … all of it impressive music, well played and sung, and vivdly recorded' (The Sunday Times)

'Vividly atmospheric' (The Guardian)

'Robert King’s magical history tour of Hanoverian London brings life to contemporary accounts of the coronation of George II. Outstanding accounts of Handel’s Coronation Anthems and a joyful reading of Purcell’s I was glad … a powerful experience' (Classic FM Magazine)

'The whole experience of listening repeatedly to this restaged coronation has been deeply satisfying and indeed moving. It is not like hearing a recording. You were there – it is as simple, and as wonderful, as that' (Fanfare, USA)

'Throughout the performances find King and his outstanding musicians at their most vibrant and dynamic, with choral and instrumental contributions that resoundlingly capture the splendour of the occasion' (Goldberg)

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