Baroque music is the precursor to what we know as classical music. Baroque music was set between the period of 1600 and 1760 a roughly 150 year cycle. It introduced the notion of tonal functionality which can be defined as the relationship of a chord with other chords in the key.
Baroque is still utilized today and listened to. Known artist for this genre are Johann Sebastian Bach and Henry Purcell.
George Frideric Handel was one of the most popular musicians in this period. Today the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus has taken one of Handel's most impressive works "Zadok the Priest," from the Coronation Anthems.
In 1992 the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) commissioned Englishman Tony Britten to arrange an anthem for their UEFA Champions League the continents premier football (soccer) competition.
Britten incorporated the three major languages that are used by the federation English, French and German. The complete anthem is around three minutes long and has two short verses and the chorus.
The Royal Philharmonic was formed in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham making it one of the youngest major ensembles in Europe. At the moment the principal conductor for the orchestra is Swiss Charles Dutoit and as to date the RPO has recorded the works of Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Offenbach.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus is attached to the orchestra and has been around since the late 1950s and is currently led by Johan Duijck the ensemble recently won a Grammy for Best Choral Performance in 2012.
Handel- Zadok the Priest
UEFA Champions League Anthem
