Zadok the Priest

G. F. HandelHWV 258

Key

D

Time

C

Tempo

♩=100

AO focus

AO3

Form

Coronation anthem No. 1 — composed for the coronation of George II, sung at every British coronation since. Long instrumental build (rising broken-chord arpeggios, 23 bars of crescendo) before the chorus enters fortissimo on 'Zadok the priest'.

Teaching points

• Crescendo architecture — 23 bars of orchestral build with no chorus. Discuss how Handel sustains tension
• Choral entry on the dominant chord — voices crash in on A major fortissimo before resolving home to D
• AO1: the most-broadcast piece of British choral music — every coronation since 1727. Royal context
• AO3: text painting — 'all the people' calls for full chorus tutti, every voice on a strong syllable