Handel's Four Coronation Anthems

About

Bradford-on-Avon Choral Society are performing Handel's Four Coronation Anthems at Holy Trinity Church Bradford-on-Avon on Saturday, 15th October at 7.30pm and also at St. Mary's Church Steeple Ashton on Sunday, 16th October at 3pm. The concert will include a recital by celebrated organist, Peter King.
Bradford Choral was founded 36years ago by Kelvin Thomas MBE (founder and musical director of The Silver Ring Choir of Bath). We have performed many types of music from Victorian parlour pieces to the great Masses, medieval works to the moderns such as Karl Jenkins. Having survived the pandemic by rehearsing on Zoom (a very strange experience!) we are back in strength with our current musical director Alan Burgess.
Handel's four Coronation anthems were composed for the coronation of George II in 1727. One of these, Zadoc the Priest, has been performed at every coronation since. This piece has particular significance for one of our choir, as he first performed it as a choirboy in Westminster Abbey at our late Queen's coronation.
Alan Burgess studied music at Edinburgh University. He has had a lifelong love of choral music and directed many choirs. Having a strong commitment to community projects he was the musical director of the first Frome festival in 2001, directing performances of Britten's Noye's Fludde. In 2012 he was co-founder of Frome Voices. Now retired from headship, he fills his days with piano teaching, directing and accompanying choirs, and as a trustee of Jackdaws Musical Education Trust.
Peter King, organist emeritus at Bath Abbey, served as Director of Music there from 1986 to 2016. During his tenure he led several European choir tours, founded the Abbey Girls Choir and released 8 choral CDs. He was instrumental in the design and installation of the Abbey's new Kleitz organ, recorded 12CDs and frequently performed and broadcast recitals over several decades. He was assistant chorus director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra chorus throughout Sir Simon Rattle's directorship and holds the honorary degree of Director of Music from the University of Bath.