VA - The Official Album of The Coronation: The Service (2023)

London, Saturday 6th May, 2023 – Decca Classics is thrilled to announce that The Official Album of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla is now available! After an undertaking of immense scale and precision (with 192 microphones in the Abbey and using over 7 miles of cable) the final recording was safely delivered and uploaded to digital streaming platforms across the globe, ready to be enjoyed by the public from this evening, complete with an official photograph from the Coronation ceremony as the album cover.

Described as an “incredibly three-dimensional experience sonically” by the multi-Grammy-nominated album producer Anna Barry, this is also the first time an event of this magnitude has been recorded in high definition surround sound, with the size of the building and the music performed lending itself perfectly to an immersive listening experience.
Marking an unprecedented event in both recorded music and British royal history, this album becomes the fastest recording of its size, with the full process, from performance to release, taking place over the course of a single day.
The physical version of the album (featuring the entire service and all new commissions) will be available in stores globally from 15th May, with a special Deluxe Collectors CD and vinyl to follow later in the year.
Every moment from the historic ceremony, which was watched by millions around the world, including all music and spoken word, as well as the pre-service music, is captured here on the new album, which is over 4 hours long. This marks the first time ever a recording of a Coronation ceremony – a tradition which can be traced back more than 1000 years – has been available globally to stream and download on the day of the service itself, thanks to advances in modern technology.
In an unparalleled celebration of contemporary and traditional British music, the major ceremonial occasion featured a wide range of musical styles and performers blending heritage with the new musical voices of today, all reflecting The King’s life-long love and support of music and the arts. Amongst the performances were 12 newly composed pieces of music (six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission), showcasing talent from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, in a programme of music – spanning from 9th century to the present day – that was shaped and selected by His Majesty The King himself.
A standout moment of the ceremony was the ‘Coronation Anthem’, a brand new commission written for the occasion by Lord Lloyd Webber, entitled ‘Make A Joyful Noise’. With its rousing opening and closing fanfare played by the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force and jubilant chorus sung by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, accompanied by the Coronation Orchestra, the words “Make A Joyful Noise unto the Lord, the King” (from Psalm 98) are entirely fitting. A pre-recorded studio version of this piece is also released today as a standalone single.
The Official Coronation Album is produced by one of the world’s finest classical record producers, Anna Barry, who has produced over 500 recordings of distinction over 35 years, including the wedding of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, previous works by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and recording projects from artists such as José Carreras, Elina Garanča, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Andrea Bocelli, the Sistine Chapel Choir, Lorin Maazel, Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE and many more.
Co-Presidents of Decca Label Group, Tom Lewis and Laura Monks add, “We feel incredibly proud of Decca Classics’ involvement in this momentous, joyous event. It is not a privilege we take lightly but is an honour for a label that has always been at the forefront of musical excellence and representing British music around the world.”

TRACKLIST

1. The State Trumpeters Of The Household Calvary & Major Julian Sandford – Fanfare For The Arrival Of Their Majesties (00:27)
2. Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force, Wing Commander Piers Morrell, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, The Kingâs Scholars of Westminster School & Tim Garrard – I Was Glad (Arr. Rutter) (07:13)
3. His Majesty King Charles III & Samuel Strachan, Child of His Majestyâs Chapel Royal – Greeting The King (00:16)
4. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – Greeting and Introduction (01:12)
5. Bryn Terfel, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha & Peter Holder – Coronation Kyrie eleison (02:17)
6. Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force, Wing Commander Piers Morrell, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury, The Right Honourable Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE KC, Christopher Finney GC & The Right Honourable The Baroness Amos LG CH – Recognition Fanfares: The Recognition (02:18)
7. The Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland – The Presenting of the Holy Bible (00:36)
8. His Majesty King Charles III & The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Oaths (02:49)
9. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir & Andrew Nethsingha – Prevent Us, O Lord, T 207 (02:37)
10. His Majesty King Charles III – The Kingâs Prayer (00:41)
11. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir & Andrew Nethsingha – Mass for 4 Voices, T 1: Gloria (05:15)
12. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Collect (00:40)
13. The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP, Prime Minister of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – The Epistle (02:06)
14. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha & Peter Holder – Alleluia (O Clap Your Hands) (01:36)
15. The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Dean of His Majestyâs Chapels Royal – The Gospel (01:35)
16. Ascension Gospel Choir & Abimbola Amoako-Gyampah – Alleluia (O Sing Praises) (02:19)
17. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Sermon (05:23)
18. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha & Peter Holder – Veni Creator Spiritus (02:31)
19. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – Thanksgiving for the Holy Oil (01:01)
20. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano & Peter Holder – Zadok the Priest, HWV 258 (05:28)
21. Byzantine Chant Ensemble, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury & Dr Alexander Lingas – The Investiture and Give The King Your Judgements (Byzantine Chant) (06:47)
22. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Crowning (00:43)
23. Coronation Brass Ensemble & Paul Wynne Griffiths – Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare, TrV 248 (Arr. Mealor) (02:17)
24. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas, The Reverend Canon Helen Cameron, The Right Reverend Mike Royal & His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols – The Blessing (01:30)
25. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir & Andrew Nethsingha – O Lord, Grant the King a Long Life (02:27)
26. Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force, Wing Commander Piers Morrell, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales & The Congregation of Westminster Abbey – The Enthroning And The Homage (Homage Fanfare) (02:40)
27. Roderick Williams, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano & Peter Holder – Confortare (Arr. Rutter) (01:25)
28. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Coronation of The Queen (01:07)
29. Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano & Peter Holder – Make a Joyful Noise (02:53)
30. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Peter Holder, Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force & Wing Commander Piers Morrell – Christ is Made the Sure Foundation (Arr. O'Donnell) (05:07)
31. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – Prayer over the Gifts and The Eucharistic Prayer (01:18)
32. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha & Peter Holder – Coronation Sanctus (02:06)
33. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – The Eucharistic Prayer (Continued) (03:35)
34. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury & The Congregation of Westminster Abbey – The Lordâs Prayer (00:44)
35. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha & Peter Holder – Coronation Agnus Dei (02:27)
36. The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop Of Canterbury – Post-Communion Prayer and The Blessing (01:13)
37. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir & Andrew Nethsingha – Threefold Amen (00:46)
38. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Peter Holder, Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force & Wing Commander Piers Morrell – Praise, My Soul the King of Heaven (Arr. Robinson) (03:10)
39. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano & Peter Holder – The King Shall Rejoice: Opening Chorus (03:35)
40. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano, Peter Holder & Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force – Coronation Te Deum (Arr. Rutter) (08:53)
41. The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, The Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, Choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, Choristers from Chapel Choir of Methodist College Belfast, Octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Andrew Nethsingha, Coronation Orchestra, Antonio Pappano, Peter Holder & Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Air Force – The National Anthem (God Save The King) [Arr. Jacob] (02:08)
42. Coronation Orchestra & Antonio Pappano – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 in G Major, Op. 39 No. 4 (Arr. Farrington) (04:56)
43. Coronation Orchestra & Antonio Pappano – March from the Birds (Arr. Rutter) (03:29)
44. Peter Holder – Chorale Fantasia on "The Old Hundredth" (07:23)
45. Coronation Brass Ensemble & Paul Wynne Griffiths – Earl of Oxford's March (Arr. Knight) (03:12)