VIDEO: Composer draws on Celtic connections for Coronation music

In this section
VIDEO: Composer draws on Celtic connections for Coronation music

With just weeks to go before the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, further details of music for the ceremony, which includes a brand-new piece by a University of Aberdeen composer, have been revealed.

Professor Paul Mealor has composed a setting of the ‘Kyrie’ (Lord, have mercy upon us) for the choirs of Westminster Abbey and His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, accompanied by organ, with the world-renowned Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel CBE as soloist.

The ‘Kyrie’, which traditionally opens mass, is normally sung in Greek. However, Mealor was specifically commissioned by His Majesty The King to set his ‘Kyrie’ in a Welsh language version.

He said: “It is the most amazing honour to be asked not only to produce a piece of music for such an important historic occasion but to be given the opportunity to showcase our Celtic heritage.

“As the longest serving Prince of Wales, this is very fitting for His Majesty. We have a King who has shown great support for a wide variety of music over many years and is a passionate advocate for music.”

It will be the first time that Welsh has been sung at a coronation.

Professor Mealor, who is Chair in Composition at the University of Aberdeen, added: “It is a meditative, introspective piece based on a blend between Gregorian chant and ‘Cerdd Dant’ (Welsh Penillion singing - an important part of eisteddfodau). I was inspired by the great Welsh hymns – Aberystwyth, Cwn Rhondda, Ar Lan Y Môr – and the composition is ‘coloured’ by the harmonies of these hymns. It is a cry from the deep soul of the hills and valleys of Wales for hope, peace, love and friendship.”

Search News

Browse by Month

2024

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2024
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2024
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2024
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2024

2022

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2022
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2016

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2016
  2. Feb
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2016
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2016
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2016
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2016
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2016
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2016
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2015

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2015
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2015
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2015
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2015
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2015
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2015
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2015
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2015
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2015
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2015
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2015

2014

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2014
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2014
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2014
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2014
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2014
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2014

2013

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2013
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2013
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2013
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2013

2012

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2012
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2012
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2012
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2011

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2011
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2011
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2011
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2011
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2011
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2011
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2011
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2011
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2011
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2011