THE KINGS CORONATION
‘SACRED FIRE’ – COMMISSIONED BY HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III FOR THE CORONATION
VIDEOS
Sacred Fire
Composed and Arranged by Sarah Class,
Lyrics by Grahame Davies,
Performed by Pretty Yende and the Coronation Orchestra
Conducted by Antonio Pappano
PODCASTS
Sarah Class and Debbie Wiseman speak on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row prior to The Kings Coronation
Evening Standard – The Leader Podcast – 20th April
PRESS ARTICLES
Gramophone Article – The Coronation: Meeting the Composers Behind the Music (May 4th 2023).
Hello Magazine – Coronation Countdown feature on Sarah Class (May 2023)
Radio Times – Lighting a Sacred Fire (6 -12 May 2023)
ITV News at Ten – Interview – 3rd April
Sunday Express – Press Association Interview – 16th April
BBC News – Press Association Interview – 16th April
The Independent – Press Association Interview – 16th April
BBC Music Magazine – Inclusion in round-up of composers for the Coronation story – 16th April
The I – Inclusion in round-up of composers for the Coronation story – 16th April
Yahoo – Press Association Interview – 16th April
Bristol Live – Press Association Interview – 18th April
CNN – Preview of Coronation with mention – 28th April
Classic FM Online – Preview of Coronation with mention – 29th April
Gramophone – Preview of Coronation with mention – 28th April
The Lady – First Impressions Q&A – 5th May
Daily Mirror – Interview – 5th May
The I – Coronation music news story – 6th May
Heart – Coronation music news story – 6th May
Classical Music – Coronation music news story – 6th May
LYRICS
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