Georg Friedrich Händel

Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened

For the occasion of the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline, which took place in Westminster Abbey on October 11, 1727, Handel wrote four splendid anthems and personally supervised their performance which was, according to all reports, one of great magnificence. The four anthems were enthusiastically received, and one or more of them has been performed at every British coronation since 1727.
Anthem No. 4 ('Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened') is the most modest of all the Coronation Anthems in its vocal and instrumental demands. It is quite accessible to the amateur choir, and is well suited to performance with keyboard accompaniment alone (needless to say, if two oboes and a few strings can be obtained the results will be even finer.)
For five-part chorus of mixed voices with organ or piano accompaniment. Edited and with keyboard reduction by William Herrman.