Coronation of King Charles III: Veni Creator Spiritus (in four British Languages) & Zadok the Priest

At Westminster Abbey, London on Saturday 6th May 2023.

King Charles III prepares to be anointed with holy oil by His Grace, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England.

Music

Veni Creator Spiritus

The simple, but exceedingly beautiful, antiphonal plainsong piece entitled "Veni Creator Spiritus" (Come, Creator Spirit) is a traditional Christian hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus, a ninth-century saint, German monk, teacher, and archbishop. When the original Latin text is used, it is normally sung in Gregorian Chant. It has been translated and paraphrased into several languages, and adapted into many musical forms, often as a hymn for Pentecost or for other occasions that focus on the Holy Spirit.

For those in the congregation and watching remotely, this music was a very moving focal point upon which to reflect while the King was approaching anointment in this private, solemn and important moment. The choir powerfully accompanied the holy anointing in English, Irish, Gaelic, and Welsh, representing people from all over the British Isles. Translated into plainsong by John Cosin during the 17th century, the work was translated in its multilingual arrangement by Grahame Davies, Iain Urchadan, and Damian McManus.

Zadok the Priest

The magnificent coronation anthem Zadok the Priest (HWV 258) is a British anthem that was composed by George Frideric Handel for the coronation of George II in 1727. Alongside The King Shall Rejoice, My Heart is Inditing, and Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, Zadok the Priest is one of Handel's coronation anthems. One of Handel's best-known works, Zadok the Priest has been sung prior to the anointing of the sovereign at the coronation of every British monarch since its composition and has become recognised as a British patriotic anthem.

[AntPDC]

With many thanks to YouTuber @keithbulley for this extract from the official Order of Service:

THE ANOINTING

Their Majesties kneel at the Chairs of Estate. The congregation kneels or remains seated. The choir sings in English, Welsh, Gaelic, and Irish.

English:

1. COME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Welsh:

2. O gynorthwyydd oddi fry,
Rhodd werthfawrocaf Duw wyt ti:
Ffynhonnell bywyd, dwyfol dân
Eneinia ni â’th Ysbryd Glân.

Scots Gaelic:

3. Fada bhuain iomain ar nàmh
Agus builich sa bhad do ghràs
Ò, treòraich sinn, a Cheannaird àird
Bho bhuaidh gach beud agus cràdh.

Irish:

4. Go dtí dhíot gurb aithnid dúinn
An t-AthairMhac, a Spioraid, a rún,
Tú leo an Triúr i n-éinphearsa
Creidimis ionaibh tré bhiotha na mbeatha.

Translation:

2. Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.

3. Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.

4. Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee of both to be but One,
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:

English:

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Anni]

I just can't stop listening to Veni Creator Spiritus. There are no words to describe the beauty of this version. ❤

[AntPDC]

I hope you will not mind my saying that, for me, this part of the coronation was among the most beautiful, the most reflective, the most holy, the most gut-wrenchingly glorious and stupendous things I have ever seen in my life. I broke down at the quiet beauty of the Veni Creator Spiritus in its simple invocation, and was yet lifted up by the Anointing, accompanied by Handel's stunning Zadok the Priest. These were tangibly sacred moments - moments of peace, glory and joy which our World desperately needs today - faith or none. This is the apex of human civilisation, and we must surely celebrate and protect the legacy of our forefathers and mothers who elevated humanity to this pinnacle of grace and beauty, made us what we are, for we are all one another's brothers and sisters.

[Greylin]

Sheer goosebumps when "ZADOK THE PRIEST AND NATHAN THE PROPHET ANNOINTED SOLOMON KING" hits

[gerardoarenasss]

This is the moment I didn’t sleep that night to see live in California, it’s something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world

[bobhall]

Wow. The veni creator spiritus was just beautiful. British church choirs really know how to sing plain song. If i were the creator spirit and heard that i would come. And Zamora the priest. What an incredible tie to history.

[mecanous]

Both pieces superb. What a great coronation it was as well. Makes you proud to be British!

[frazer]

I wonder if either Zadok or Nathan could ever have imagined the invocation of their names in quite such a powerful way as Handel allows and demonstrates so magnificently here - some several Millenia later, on a little Northern European island. It’s a funny old 🌎 but beauty is everywhere.

With core elements from the old pre reformation, Latin ‘high church’ coronation mass, translated to the national language, dipped in ‘modern’ high church Anglicanism, creating a melting pot of mystery. Legitimised by history. Echoing down the ages. On the exact site and the same ceremony near enough, as in 1066 AD.
Very impressive indeed ❤️
God save the King

[tambrosia]

Thank you for sharing.
I wish the very best for King Charles III and his son Prince William the heir to the throne.
May he be the strength for the nation as his late mother Queen Elizabeth II was.
God Save the King
God Save the World

[MayYourGodGoWithYou]

Thank you.
God Save King Charles of New Zealand.

[notDonaldFagen]

Veni Creator Spititus was so nice. Ihad been watching live on my phone and must rewound it 10 times for this song. I didn't know it, but glad I was able to find it.

[jameswilkinson]

The moment of his anointment, seeing the screens appear for the godly private poignant moment, the Zadok the Priest.. as a grown man and 10 years military service I admit I lost it and became almost u controllable emotional.. That moment will forever be indalibley etched in my mind 7:14

[AI-hxfx]

I love the multilingual approach to this very sacred chant.

[ronin]

Really beautiful how they sang Veni Creator Spiritus in all 4 major languages of the United Kingdom.

[kevinhickey]

Have all the new compositions you want but this Veni Creator will leave everything else in the shade. The highlight for sure. As was O God you searched me out and known me at ER's arrival in Westminster in Beautiful....

[stefanfrancke]

The Zadok part, well okay, it is a coronation. But the "Veni Creator Spiritus" really opened heaven.

[miguelindart]

congratulations for this party of the king coronation!!! the music is excelent and the church is beutiful. hell from Pamplona Spain

[AntPDC]

The Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest, by G F Handel begins at 04:15. HOWEVER, the Veni Creator Spiritus at the beginning is utterly SUBLIME - the quiet, reflective equal of the stunning Zadok Anthem, so I'd urge you not to skip it!

[isabellesibthorp]

I save the king I watched this on the 6th of May II watched your idea I watched you❤

[I.AM.JUPITER]

I cannot stop watching & listening to this - Charles looked humbled. And, he wore a tunic and Westminster Abbey looked liked the United Nations! Spectacular!