Prelude, The Song of Songs and First Performance of KING SOLOMON
Bantock's King Solomon was written this year to commemorate the Coronation of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The words, chosen from the Old Testament and Psalms, are particularly appropriate for the occasion. Thus, the first section ' Processional' is a setting of Psalm xxi, and contains the following lines : — ' The King shall rejoice in Thy strength, 0 Lord ...'
The second section, ' Monologue ', is drawn from the Second Book of Chronicles, chapter I, verses 1-13, and in it occur the words : — ' For Thou hast made me King over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude '. And the ' Choral
Hymn ', with which the work concludes, is a setting of Psalm cxlviii: — ' Praise ye the Lord '.
The music is remarkable for its breadth and tunefulness : the choral writing is impressive and dramatic, and the Monologue, which is declaimed by the Narrator, to the accompaniment of occasional fanfares, is effective both on account of its inherent qualities as well as for the contrast it forms with the two Psalms between which it is placed.