University of Aberdeen composer, Professor Paul Mealor, has been selected to write music for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Professor Mealor has been commissioned to write an entirely new piece of music for the ceremony on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. He described it as ‘the honour of a lifetime’ and said he was delighted that His Majesty has supported the creation of new music for the Coronation.
Professor Mealor is one of only a handful of living composers who has been given the honour of creating pieces for the historic event at Westminster Abbey. He said: “It is the most amazing honour to be asked to produce a piece of music for such an important historic occasion. “We have a King who has shown great support for a wide variety of music over many years and is a passionate advocate for music. “It is a privilege to be a part of an occasion of this scale. Many of us will not experience another Coronation in our lifetimes.”
Writing an entirely new work for such a significant world stage is not without its challenges and Professor Mealor said he had to block out thoughts of the momentous occasion while composing. “Once the adrenaline of being selected for this honour wears off, it is rather daunting to begin putting pencil to manuscript and trusting that what you write will be worthy of such a stage,” he added. “I am grateful to have been given this wonderful opportunity following on from a number of previous occasions where I have written for both His Majesty and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. “A decade ago, I was busy preparing music for Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s installation as the University’s Chancellor. During her tenure, Her Majesty has been an active supporter of our University music and opportunities to showcase it do not get any bigger than the Coronation.”
This new commission follows from Professor Mealor's music to the Scottish and Welsh National Services of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and his first BAFTA nominations for his scores to BBC's 'Wonders of The Celtic Deep' and S4C's (Welsh Channel 4) 'Tangnefedd'.