38. George Frederic Handel - Zadok the Priest (1727)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcfR4utkASoThis was originally composed for the coronation of George II, and has been sung at every coronation since... so we haven't heard it in that regard since Queen Elizabeth II was coronated forever ago. I've sung it a few times, and yes the regality is totally there (singing about King Solomon, rejoicing, etc). The hallelujah, amen, repetition does seem to go on and on, as is the case of Handel sometimes, but every time it is sung it is JUST different enough to maintain interest (at least in my opinion).
The video I have here is sung in Westminster Abbey, probably where this was sung the first time, and where Handel is buried, so I think it's appropriate.
37. Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (1936)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHBG_FeITBYEVERYONE knows the O Fortuna. Get past that and you get a very secular, earthy, piece in 4 parts... the first part is about Spring, the second part is about the Meadow, the third part is about men in a Tavern (including a countertenor drunk!), and the fourth part is about two people having sex (yes, that is correct... the guys singing veni veni venias meaning come come come and then the soprano soloist singing dulCIIIIIISIME (so sweet) so high... you know what's happening there!
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Anyways, I love this piece, and it's so much fun to perform.