Retaining his position as composer to the Chapel Royal (a post he had held since 1723), Handel was commissioned to compose the anthems for the coronation of George II and his consort Queen Caroline at Westminster Abbey on October 11th, 1727 which was, by contemporary reports, an occasion of great magnificence. The music which Handel provided for the occasion was no less magnificent, and its reputation remained vivid for many years afterwards. Five years later, in 1732 the reputation of the coronation music was such that Handel advertised his first English Oratorio performance in a London theatre with the explanation "The Music to be disposed after the Manner of the Coronation Service'.

Certainly, contemporary accounts attest to the quality of Handel's music. Parker's Penny Post announced on October 4th: "Mr. Hendle (sic) has composed the Musick for the Abbey at the Coronation, and the Italian voices, with above a Hundred of the best Musicians will perform; and the Whole is allowed by those Judges in Musick who have already heard it, to exceed any Thing heretofore of the same Kind: It will be rehearsed this Week, but the time will be kept private, lest the Crowd of People should be an obstruction to the Performers." Later, the Norwich Gazette printed an account of the rehearsal of October 6th. "There were", the Gazette informed its readers, "40 Voices, and about 100 Violins, Trumpets, Hautboys, Kettle-Drums, and Bass's proportionable; besides an Organ, which was erected behind the Altar: And both the Musick and the Performers, were the Admiration of all the Audience."

In the planning of our recordings we have always preferred, when appropriate, an alternation of sound spectrum; thus we have chosen to intersperse three Coronation Anthems with the three Concerti a Due Cori. This in fact works particularly well, since the Concerti can surely be said to equal the Anthems in splendor. Indeed, one could easily imagine the Concerti as being an accompaniment to the Coronation itself.

These are mature works dating from the late 1740s and originating with Handel's Oratorios. The title "a due cori" is not Handel's own, yet it accurately reflects the content since each is scored for two wind groups (designated primo coro and secondo coro by Handel himself) in addition to strings and continuo. The groups in all three concertos contain oboes and bassoons, and in the two Concertos in F a pair of horns is added to each group, producing a sound which blends perfectly with that of the Anthems. If some of the tunes sound familiar one need not be surprised; Handel re-presented much of his music in different forms. Perhaps in a way the sense of familiarity thus generated has contributed to his lasting popularity.