BREAKING NEWS: Blair to take on YALE post
- Watch video of ‘Rule Britannia’
- Watch video of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’
- Watch video of ‘Jerusalem’
- Bob & Hoot to the ‘Sailor’s Hornpipe’
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Comment at end
4th March, 2008
LAND OF HOPE AND ….
It seems Margaret Hodge, the Culture Minister, is doing an Archbishop so to speak. She thinks the Last Night of The Proms is no longer quite the thing. Not pc enough; too old Empire. She says our cultural events should “enhance a sense of shared identity”. Silly remark. The woman just does NOT get it. The Royal Albert Hall’s Last Night of the Proms attracts thousands and is watched by millions all over the world, including many who were not born here nor have ever lived in Britain. And people from any country can bring ANY flag into the Albert Hall and wave it all the way through – without anyone batting an eyelid. We are (thus far) still sufficiently secure in our identity not to feel threatened by others’ flags.
Shame on Ms Hodge for being embarrassed by our history and/or our patriotism. Most of the time, in my humble opinion, we are not patriotic enough. And I, like most of my readers I imagine, was not alive in the last world war, so I’m not bubbling over with painful, personal memories.
There are already hundreds of shared culture events around the country every year. I would not attend many of them given a free front row ticket! But they have their place. And a little lesson, Ms Hodge – you cannot impose a culture on a people. Not unless you are ready for trouble. To knock the Last Night of The Proms shows just how far some of our politicians have slipped off the mark in their once sure common touch.
In my humble opinion, a nation that forgets its past, forfeits its future.
This video is just a little reminder of what the Last Night of The Proms, at the Royal Albert Hall, is all about, Ms Hodge. I enjoyed it, although there are many more professional examples on YouTube. This was filmed by an ordinary prommer, who felt the atmosphere and thought “gotta get this”. A few years ago I’d have thought all of this a bit passé. A bit too Victorian, old-fashioned, revelling in our empirical past. Today, I appreciate it a lot more. Don’t ask me why.
But the opening words of another traditional stalwart of the Last Night … “Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee” … make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck: (see video here, below lyrics of “Rule Britannia”)
RULE BRITANNIA
[See below for pronunciation / singing guide]
When Britain first, at heaven’s command,
Arose from out the azure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:Rule Britania!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
Must in ,must in, must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
(Chorus)
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Brittons never, never, never shall be slaves.Rule Britannia (with pronunciation singing guide)
When Britain first, at heaven’s command,
Aro-o-o-ose from out the a-a-a-zure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian A-a-angels sang this strain:Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves. Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.The nations, no-o-o-o-ot so blest as thee,
Must i-i-i-i-in their turn, to ty-y–yrants fall,
Must in ,must in, must in their turn, to ty-y-rants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and e-e-e-e-nvy of them all.
(Chorus)
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Click here to hear it sung by Jill Daniels
If that’s got you in the mood – how’s about Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March – in other words “Land of Hope & Glory”
Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still, and wider, shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet!
Truth and Right and Freedom, each a holy gem,
Stars of solemn brightness, weave thy diadem.
Tho’ thy way be darkened, still in splendour drest,
As the star that trembles o’er the liquid West.
Throned amid the billows, throned inviolate,
Thou hast reigned victorious, thou has smiled at fate.
Land of Hope and Glory, fortress of the Free,
How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee?
Hark, a mighty nation maketh glad reply;
Lo, our lips are thankful, lo, our hearts are high!
Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal lips that sing;
Strong in faith and freedom, we have crowned our King!
It might also be worth noting that the Last Night of the Proms is the ONLY night we get a little patriotic. The rest of the Proms season is taken up with artists, musicians and dancers from all over the world. No wonder the Culture Minister was nowhere to be found for her pre-booked radio 4 interview today! Silly woman.
(As sung at the Last Night of The Proms)
Walk upon England’s mountains green
And was the holy lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark Satanic mills
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o’clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
‘Til we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land
‘Til we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land
What? Not English?
Now tell me you haven’t got a smile on your face!
THAT’S what the Last Night of the Proms is all about, Ms Hodge.
And if you’re not sure what The Sailor’s Hornpipe looks like, here’s a clip below from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the annual Edinburgh festival. Now I DO hope you haven’t got THAT particular festival in your time for cultural change sights, Minister.
Tags: culture minister, Government 20, jerusalem, land of hope and glory, last night of the proms, margaret hodge, royal albert hall, rule britannia, shared culture, the proms
May 23, 2008 at 9:21 pm |
You’re very welcome.