THE soundtrack for the King's Coronation is “fun”, GB News can exclusively reveal.
Speaking to GB News, Julian Lloyd Webber, whose brother Andrew is composing the music, told Michael Portillo he’d heard the “very celebratory” music.
He said: “I've heard it. Everything had to be played to King Charles. It's very celebratory.
"And, you know, he's certainly using the building. You can hear that.
"It's a fun piece, which I think it should be and I think that's very much how he felt.
"I think they actually changed some of the words of Psalm 98 with King Charles’ agreement, and because he wanted to make it even more joyous."
Shirley Thompson, one of the composers of the music for the Coronation, told GB News of her delight at being a part of history.
She said: “Those involved have become a community, yes, we very much have become the Coronation composers and we're all meeting up for lunch afterwards after the ceremony and stuff.
King Charles wants to modernise the monarchy, starting with his Coronation
PA"We’ve got a WhatsApp group - and several of my friends are actually composing music. I feel excited more than anything. I am very excited about it and just very much overawed by the magnificence of it, because it's so historical.
"I am reflective in the way that I wrote for the Queen exactly 20 years ago, so I am feeling that sense of history and the legacy of the Queen at the same time."
It came as Buckingham Palace confirmed the Coronation Concert will feature a Union Flag-shaped stage which fans out to the audience.
Around 20,000 members of the public are expected to attend the event next Sunday where they'll see a stage lit-up in red, white and blue against the background of the East Terrace of Windsor Castle.
The stage will also have a halo-like screen surround the roof, which will “symbolise the Crown protecting the nation”.
Katy Perry will sing at the Coronation Concert
PA
Together with the parapet wall steps in the middle, the staging creates multiple levels for the 74-piece classical ensemble – formed from the strings of the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra and woodwind, brass and percussion sections from the Bands of the Household Division – to make an abstracted Union Jack.
Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger will also sing at the Coronation Concert
Muller/YouTube
There are four additional catwalks, which also form the flag shape, so fans can see acts close up.
At the back of the stage the orchestra will sit in front of the castle.
The concert, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, will see Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones appear by video message.
The series of pre-recorded sketches will reveal little-known facts about the monarch and will also include moments from beloved literary figure Winnie the Pooh – seemingly echoing the famous moment Paddington Bear drank tea with the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will be among the musical performers, alongside Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.
Classical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and Chinese pianist Lang Lang will also perform.
The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art will come together for the first time to create a one-off performance featuring Sex Education and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac.
The Coronation Concert will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Sunday May 7 from 8pm.
