Handel's four coronation anthems use text from the King James Bible and were originally

commissioned for the coronation of George II of Great Britain in 1727, but were and still are
often used at all coronations. They are named Zadok the Priest, Let Thy Hand Be
Strengthened, The King Shall Rejoice, and My Heart Is Inditing. Each was originally a
separate work but they were later published together.

The most famous of these four is Zadok the Priest, which has been played at every single
coronation since it was composed. Handel wrote this piece hoping that the sound would fill
the huge space of Westminster Abbey. On top of being used for coronations, this piece is
also used as the theme of the Champions League football. The words “rejoice” and “God
Save The King” are heavily featured.

The piece “let thy hand be strengthened” was the first composition to be played at the
coronation and is the only composition not to feature trumpets or drums. In this music, we
see how Handel adapts the traditional English anthem of Purcell and others. It is simple,
public music designed to be heard in a large cathedral, as opposed to the technically
challenging baroque music that was used in chambers with smaller ensembles. Like Zadok
the Priest, this piece has been played at every coronation since 1727.

This piece ‘My heart is inditing’ was written for the coronation of James II in 1685 and was
performed by an eight-part choir, strings and an organ. It was created for the part of the
ceremony that related to James’s queen, Mary of Modena and therefore the lines on these
pages ‘at his right hand shall stand the Queen, all glorious within’ are particularly
appropriate.