Handel's Coronation Anthems; Bach's Magnificat; Bach's Double Violin Concerto

Handel: The Four Coronation Anthems:

Bach:

A blaze of trumpets, timpani and choral sound characterises our spring concert of grand and festive music from the two greatest composers of the Baroque, in this, the 250th anniversary year of Handel’s death in 1759.

Handel composed his four Coronation Anthems for the coronation of George II and Queen Caroline in 1727, the year he became a British citizen. Handel used simple, direct music and large forces to fill Westminster Abbey with sound, befitting the pomp and grandeur of the occasion. The choir of 47 and orchestra of possibly 160 was large even by modern standards (we will have a much bigger choir and somewhat smaller orchestra!).

The first anthem, Zadok the Priest has been played at every coronation service since. Bach’s joyous Magnificat in E flat was first performed on Christmas Day 1723, his first Christmas in Leipzig. Bach later revised the work, producing the more commonly performed, shorter version in D.

The Magnificat is richly scored for what was, at the time, a large orchestra.

Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor (the Double Violin Concerto) will provide contrast to the vocal works. The concerto, with its beautiful central section, is one of Bach’s best-loved works.

This will be Southampton Philharmonic Choir’s first performance of three of the Coronation Anthems, and our first Bach Magnificat in thirty years. Southampton Philharmonic Choir and the students of Southampton University Phil will be joined by the New London Sinfonia, a brilliant professional symphony orchestra that regularly performs with us. The conductor will be our musical director David Gibson.