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What music did George Frideric Handel compose for the coronation of George II?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Oil portrait of composer Georg Frideric Handel by Thomas Hudson, showing Handel in a red coat with gold trim, white wig, and holding a sheet of music.
George Frideric Handel George Frideric Handel, oil on canvas by Thomas Hudson, c. 1736; in the Foundling Museum, London.

For the coronation of George II on October 11, 1727, George Frideric Handel composed four anthems. These works were specifically written to accompany different stages of the ceremony held at Westminster Abbey.1

The four coronation anthems are:

  • Zadok the Priest: The most famous of the set, which was composed for the anointing of the king.12
  • Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened1
  • The King Shall Rejoice1
  • My Heart Is Inditing1

Each anthem utilizes texts from the King James Bible that were selected to suit the liturgical progression of the coronation service.1