Twelve newly commissioned pieces of music will play at the coronation of Britain’s King Charles at Westminster Abbey, including Greek Orthodox Byzantine chant, Buckingham Palace said.
Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been composed for the occasion, the palace said in a press statement, including a new Coronation Anthem by musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber.
“A range of musical styles and performers blend tradition, heritage and ceremony with new musical voices of today, reflecting The King’s life-long love and support of music and the arts,” the palace said in a statement.
It also said Charles himself, requested Greek Orthodox music, which can be traced back to the Byzantine period, to be featured in the service in tribute to his father, Prince Philip, who was born on the Greek island of Corfu. He died in 2021.
The Byzantine selections will be sung by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.
King Charles has a longstanding connection to Greek Orthodoxy. A corner of his house at Highgrove Estate outside London is filled with Byzantine icons– many of which were gifts to Charles from monks on Mount Athos, which he has visited numerous times.
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