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 Coronation commission

A song with lyrics by Grahame Davies was performed at the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6th., 2023. 

The music for 'Sacred Fire', was composed by Sarah Class and the piece was performed by the South African soprano Pretty Yende, accompanied by the Coronation Orchestra under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano. The whole song can be watched on Sarah Class's website here.

The piece was one of 12 new compositions which have been commissioned especially by The King for the ceremony. It was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber in an article in the Telegraph as 'mesmerising' and by Royal correspondent Robert Hardman un an article for the Mail Online as 'exquisite'.

'Sacred Fire' was watched by hundreds of millions on television and has been viewed over a million times since on social media.

The song was then released by Decca along with the rest of the Coronation music on a special album with all profits going to the British legion and Age UK.

As well as writing the lyrics for ‘Sacred Fire’, Grahame Davies also translated the Welsh verse of the Veni Creator Spiritus, a traditional sacred text which is sung as part of the Coronation service.  For the first time ever, the piece was performed not merely in English, but also in Welsh, Gaelic and Irish.

Pretty Yende performs 'Sacred Fire' at the Coronation

Pretty Yende at the Coronation

L-R: David Whelton (Music Advisor) Pretty Yende, Sarah Class and Grahame Davies immediately after the Coronation at Westminster Abbey

Sacred Fire

You sever us from Eden with a sword,

and lead us through the desert by your light.

You make your prophets’ word a burning coal,

and tend the lonely temple lamp at night.

You keep your silence in the desert blaze,

and speak your secrets in the lightning storm.

You hide the sun’s face like a candle flame,

and send a star to keep a stable warm.

And fill our hearts with sacred fire,

the blessing of the rosebud and the briar.

Come fill our hearts today with sacred fire,

with sacred fire,

with sacred fire.

Your love can make the hearts within us burn

and let the firelight reveal our shame.

You call the broken fellowship to feast,

and teach us to forgive in tongues of flame.

Your wisdom is the sunlight and the snow.

Your beauty is the rosebud and the briar.

Teach us to know the shadow and the light,

and fill our hearts today with sacred fire.

And fill our hearts with sacred fire,

the blessing of the rosebud and the briar,

Come fill our hearts today with sacred fire,

with sacred fire,

sacred fire.

And fill my soul,

and fill my soul

and fill my soul today.

And fill our hearts with sacred fire

the blessing of the rosebud and the briar.

Come fill our hearts today with sacred fire,

with sacred fire.

Grahame Davies