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Primary sourceDocument1727

Zadok the Priest

George Frideric Handel · 1727

Handel's coronation anthem, written for George II's 1727 coronation, has been sung at every British coronation since.

Handel composed this anthem for George II's coronation in 1727, and it has opened every coronation since.

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George Frideric Handel, Zadok the Priest, HWV 258, 1727. Modern performance by St Matthew's Concert Choir and Orchestra, dir. Damien Giromella.

About this source

What it is

Zadok the Priest is a choral anthem composed by George Frideric Handel in 1727 for the coronation of King George II. Its text is based on an ancient biblical passage about the anointing of King Solomon, which had been used in English coronations for centuries.

Why it matters

The piece links George II's coronation to a long tradition of royal ceremony, and shows how music and biblical imagery were used to give monarchy a sense of continuity and divine approval. At George II's own coronation the choir reportedly sang it in the wrong place in the service, a reminder that even grand state ceremonies did not always go smoothly.

Look closer

  • Why might a coronation anthem use a story about an ancient king being anointed by a priest?
  • What does the choice of music and ceremony tell us about how monarchs wanted to be seen?
  • Does knowing that the choir made mistakes change how you think about royal ceremonies?

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