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Saturday evening, 16th September 2023

I have just returned from a choral and orchestral concert in St John’s Church, Buxton, Derbyshire, presumably inspired by the fairly recent coronation of King Charles III. I had been looking forward to this ever since it was announced early on in the year. All four of Handel’s Coronation Anthems were in tonight’s programme, Zadok the Priest (Z.T.P.) bringing this glorious concert of Baroque music to the kind of triumphant finale that would have thrilled me as a small boy. Indeed, during the 105 minutes’ concert, my mind would wander beyond the back-burner of my memories. I seem to remember an overwhelming Z.T.P. belted out many years ago at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, by the Halle Chorus and Orchestra, prompting my revered father to remark, “It makes one want to become a Royalist!” Until that moment, I never knew that my old man really didn’t care for royalty. I’m not sure that my mother was all that keen, either. What I didn’t know until I read the programme notes tonight is that it is thought Z.T.P. was penned in celebration of Mr. Handel’s being granted British citizenship and has been part of every coronation ceremony ever since.

A year ago last week, I was on board R.M.S. Queen Mary 2 for a magnificent journey from Southampton to some of the Norwegian fjords. This was a short voyage to Norway featuring some phenomenally spectacular scenery, which is so close to home. The night before we arrived at Bergen, the joyous ambience on board, as the sun was dipping behind the hillside, was suddenly subdued when I was informed by a passenger that the Queen had passed away. I realise that she was 96, but being slightly more of a Royalist than the old fella, my heart dropped to my stomach. I meant to write something on September 8th just gone, but I didn’t get around to it. Saturday 9th saw the annual Last Night of the Proms with all the patriotic jingoism set to some glorious music, and the first full scale Last Night of the Proms since prior to the pandemic. From childhood, Rule Britannia has been a life-long favourite of mine, despite an incomprehensible (to me, that is) libretto. Good tunes are dangerous! Apart from going to church on Sunday 10th, and a good lunch with my neighbour, Roger, I don’t recall any significant anniversary that day. On Monday, it was hard to be oblivious to the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. It kind of felt as if it had happened more recently.

Tonight, I get my head down with music of Handel’s Z.T.P. ringing round my tinnitus infected brain. God Save the King! Long Live the King! May the King Live Forever!

Not much about cruising these days. I shall leave the high seas until the start of next summer.

Many thanks for reading. David, 00.11 hrs Sunday 17th September.