It was a weekend, for better or for worse, dominated by the Coronation.
Well, perhaps not dominated. I didn’t line the street in a three-piece union jack suit, waving a plastic flag, and eating red, white and blue cake and scones. But I did watch it.
I’m neither a rabid monarchist nor a rabid republican. Boringly middle-of-the-road, I’m afraid. But it was there, and we do like a bit of ceremony, and I usually get sucked in.
Besides, I had a personal reason for watching.
Thing 1 – Sanctus
The main reason I tuned in was to listen to one specific piece of music, because it was written by Roxanna Panufnik, who’s been a friend for more than half my life. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Thing 2 – Orchestra list
There was another reason for watching. As the build-up began, I remembered the existence of a document somewhere in the house, and spent a mildly frustrating hour trying (and failing) to find it. Luckily, the internet came up trumps. This is the orchestra list from the 1953 Coronation.
There’s my dad, right there, along with many other names that will be familiar to people with knowledge of the post-war music scene in the UK. For those who aren’t immersed in that world: that list amounts to a superstar line-up of orchestral players of the time, probably chief among then Dennis Brain, with whom my father recorded the Lennox Berkeley Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano. Posting that list on twitter led to a delightful bunch of replies from people sharing their own memories. Good things do happen there sometimes.
And here is the orchestra list from the 2023 Coronation.
You’ll notice a few things. For example, the difference in diversity in the two orchestras. No further comment required, I think.
But there’s also the size of the two orchestras. The Westminster Abbey organ loft is not large. I gather from my friend Ed Solomon – trombonist and knowledge-ist – that the Abbey was closed for 5 months prior to the 1953 coronation, so that the scaffolding required to expand the loft could be erected. This time, the Abbey was closed for 3 weeks. So, instead of closing it for what would now be an unthinkable length of time, the music was arranged for smaller forces.
On both occasions, the music-making was a highlight of the occasion for many people, especially…
Thing 3 – Zadok
I was disappointed that the usually superb Huw Edwards talked over the beginning, but reaction on twitter to Handel’s great anthem (which has been played at every coronation since it was written in 1727) was so unanimous that I shall henceforth amend any programme note I might write about it to include the phrase “universally hailed as an absolute banger”.
On tweeting that line I was quickly reminded by Chris Hind of the existence of this piece of excellence.
Thing 4 – Peacock
The next day I went into central London for an interview on BBC Radio London about Taking Flight. (You can listen to it here if you like – it starts at 1:59:00). I walked from Victoria to Broadcasting House – an entirely pleasant way to do things on a warm May afternoon. My eye was caught by this avian rarity.
Thing 5 – Cow parsley
It was good to see that the thronging masses hadn’t had any detrimental effect on the cow parsley on The Mall, which is in peak resplendence at the moment.
Thing 6 – Lily of the valley
Returning home, I was delighted to see – and smell – that the lily of the valley (which I mentioned was beginning to do its thing a couple of weeks ago) has now properly done its thing. Perfection.
I hadn't noted the lack of librarians this Coronation but now that I have seen the list from 1953, it is glaringly obvious. I knew there was *something* off but couldn't pinpoint it before.
Wow, what a weekend. It was so powerful to see and love, in your newsletter, how you return to nature, the greatest spectacle of all. Great read, thank you 😁