"RULE BRITANNIA."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 6

"RULE BRITANNIA."

St. Paul's, Corent Garden (London)— church and parish—abounds in memories of famous men, and even now there is still left something of an eighteenth century air in the immediate precincts. ■ Among those who'.were baptized in'the church, lived and worked in the parish, and were buried in the church yard, was Dr. Thomas Augustine Arne, whose date is given in the "Dictionary of National Biography" as 1710—1785.. In : his day Arnc was justly honoured for the many compositions with, which he delighted his contemporaries—operas, oratories, dramatic songs, and incidental, music. • Jlost of these, it is true, arc now forgotten and past revival,' but there are still a few of his, compositions that maintain their hold on his posterity. One, at all events, a song from "Alfred," a forgotten work of his, is known and sung to-day throughout the British Empire. But of the millions to whom "Rule Britannia" is familiar as their household names, how many are aware that its composer was Dr. Arne? It is curious, that no memorial' of such a man has'hitherto existed in his parish church, but, that is tho way in which mauy musical celebrities ha™ been treated after.their deaths. The rector and organist of St Paul's, Covent Garden, are now appealing for help towards removing this reproach. They propose to celebrate Arne's bicentenary by putting up a tablet and a window to his memory, and they appeal to lovers of English' music and upholders • of' British patriotism for aid in this, bslated act of piety.