Bethesda-by-the-Sea to mark coronation of King Charles with regally inspired music

Kristina Webb
·2 min read
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Royal music will fill the halls of the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea for Coronation Weekend, with a lineup of regally inspired music for the historic church’s monthly Evensong.

Stuart Forster, associate for music and liturgy at the church, said he was inspired to create a coronation-themed program for a recital and Evensong on Sunday after noting the date was one day after Saturday's coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London.

Stuart Forster is associate for music and liturgy as well as organist and choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
Stuart Forster is associate for music and liturgy as well as organist and choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.

“People love this music, and it’s a major world event,” Forster said. “I thought, 'Let’s enjoy a little piece of it here.'”

What to expect

When the original recitalist scheduled for Sunday canceled, Forster turned to his frequent musical collaborator: his husband, Michael Murray.

Murray, who like Forster is an organist, will begin his recital at 3:30 p.m. Sunday performing works including “Music for the Royal Fireworks” by George Frideric Handel, “Rhosymedre” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Crown Imperial” by William Walton. He will end with an improvisation on “God Save the Queen.”

“He’s a brilliant improviser,” Forster said.

At 4 p.m., Evensong will begin with the 27-member Bethesda Choir accompanied on the organ by Forster. The service includes “I Was Glad” by Hubert Parry, Handel’s coronation anthem “Zadok the Priest” and Herbert Howells' King’s College Service.

The choir will perform some of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite hymns, including “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven.” The program will end with the first, and most famous, of Edward Elgar's “Pomp and Circumstance" marches.

A reception after the service will have “a British flavor,” Forster said, with tea service-style fare.

What is Evensong?

Evensong has been called “the crown jewel of the Anglican liturgy,” Forster said — making it fitting in the coronation context of a crown jewel, he added.

The service includes evening prayers and psalms, traditionally held as the sun sets. Bethesda has one Evensong a month, Forster said.

If you go

What: Coronation music performance

Where: The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach

When: 3:30 p.m. Sunday

Cost: Free

Information: www.bbts.org

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Bethesda-by-the-Sea to mark coronation of King Charles with regally inspired music