NATIONAL SONGS

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4513, 4 October 1930, Page 1

NATIONAL SONGS

* SPIRIT Of ENGLAND. origin of anthem:. The historical associations of two well-known British songs were discussed by Professor J. fO. Sper-rin-.Jolmson, in the course of an interesting address to members of tlie. Auckland Rotary Club this week. The professor took two classical examples in the National ‘Anthem and “Rule, Britannia,’' which he characterised as an interesting study in survivals. The National Anthem had for many years been the subject of keen controversy and antiquarian research. Even at lhe present day opinion was not united regarding its origin. One theory was Unit it was composed by Dr. John Bull in honour of King James 1., and that the name “George" was substituted in the 18th century, said Professor Sperrm-Johnson. Other investigations attributed tile song to the 18th century composer Henry Carey, who was the author of “Bally ill Our Alley." It was certain, however, that at the lime of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 the song was used to express loyally to the Hanoverian succession. It was printed in 1742 and 1745, but. slight variants occurred in both words and tune. Other forms of the first line, for instance, were “God save our Lord, tlie King," and “God save great George, our King." There was little doubt that the song served to consolidate the position of the Hanoverian kings, and ever after it had become associated with the presence of Royalty. The theory that the song was written in the 18th century found considerable support among German inquirers, and the English National Ain them was copied by Prussia, Saxony, Denmark and Switzerland. In America the words, “My Country ’tis of thee” were fitted to the tune iu 1832, and during the Civil War, this version was much sung in the Northern States.

The mental reaction to the National Anthem, the speaker said, was perhaps I lie most interesting part of the study. It had come to be regarded as a sign of loyalty to the Crown, and as an indication of cohesion among British units widely separated geographically. Like the flag, the National Anthem had become gradually involved in ceremonial and symbolism. Even a tone-deaf person, incapable of distinguishing one note from another, would realise that the National Anthem was being played because everyone stood up. IE this deeply ingrained habit were to cease, it might lie taken as a definite sign of the disintegration of the Empire. There was no controversy about .the origin of “Rule, Britannia, which was composed by Dr. Thomas Arne, in 1740, as part of “The .Masque of Alfred,” a court entertainment given by the Prince ot Wales. The song was based on Ihe tradition which regards King Alfred as the father of the English Navy, and the song was so much in accordance with popular sentiment that it enjoyed a great vogue and 'became a cardinal factor in English policy.