Introduction
George Frederic Handel’s anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’, shamelessly plagiariased for UEFA’s ‘Champions League Anthem’, has been part of every coronation in England since 1727, and the words were chosen by a saint over a thousand years ago.
KING George II was crowned King of Great Britain in Westminster Abbey on October 11th, 1727. At the moment of his anointing,* an anthem was sung which had been used at this point in the ceremony ever since the coronation of King Edgar and Queen Ælfthryth in 973, at the hands of St Dunstan (who also compiled the service).
Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, anointed
Solomon King;
And all the people rejoiced and said,
God save
the King!
This recalls the day in about 970 BC, when, at the urging of his wife Bathsheba, the aging King David resigned the throne of Israel to his son Solomon.**
It was court composer George Frederic Handel, however, who picked out this anthem for special treatment at the coronation of King George. His grand setting for choir and orchestra has been sung at every coronation since then, including that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Actually, the choir got confused and sang it in the wrong place.
** See 1 Kings 1:29-39.
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Précis
‘Zadok the Priest’ is an anthem composed by George Frederic Handel for the coronation of King George II in 1727. It sets to music words used at the anointing of the King since the time of Edgar in 973, and Handel’s grand setting has been sung at every coronation from King George to Queen Elizabeth II. (56 / 60 words)
‘Zadok the Priest’ is an anthem composed by George Frederic Handel for the coronation of King George II in 1727. It sets to music words used at the anointing of the King since the time of Edgar in 973, and Handel’s grand setting has been sung at every coronation from King George to Queen Elizabeth II.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, just, not, or, until, whereas, whether.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Point. Recall. Since.
2 His. However. Prophet.
3 Include. King. Say.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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