The Home Forum

Radio Record, 22 April 1938, Page 42

The Home Forum

Elgar And Satire.

Cambria

Nelson)

-In the current

number of the "Record’ I was disagreeably surprised to find a scathing reference to that widely- known and stirring British anthem, "Land of Hope and Glory." . * The perpetrator of this unseemly criticism, Mr. Gordon Mirams, usually devotes his activities to reviews of current films and to matters pertaining’ to the ‘motion picture industry generally, this. being presumably the work to whith he has been assigned. That his capabilities in this respect are recognised to the’ full by your teaders, 1 have: no doubt. His talents in this direction, however, do not in my opinion, allow him licence to -pen such phrases as "hat accursed jingoistic tunes and "treating Land of Hope and Glory-with the disrespect it deserves" ; neither \ will-his- "chortlings of joy" and

expressions Caloo! Calay! ete., in evidence of his pleasure at hearing the late Sir Edward Elgar’s immortal composition played in "Swing Time" gain him a great deal of prestige with his readers. Possibly Mr. Mirams does not realise that his remarks infer a denunciation of one of England’s most illustrious musicians, Sir Edward Elgar's reputation was firmly established by his composition, "The Dream of Gerontius." His other works include two orchestral symphonies and the opera "Falstaff." The composition in ques-tion-was produced in 1902. As a culmination of the honours bestowed upon him the composer became Master of the . King’s Musick in 1924, It will thus be seen that the subject of Mr. Mirams's ill-advised rantings has an eminent origin, and despite his averred dislike, it seems safe to assert that it will be sung with patriotic feryour, as in the past, long after the swing music of which he seems so enamoured has been forgotten. The foregoing remarks are written in order to act as a possible deterrent upon Mr. Mirams’s inclinations, if any, which might ultimately lead him to make, for example, the sentiments expressed in. "God Save the King" the object of bis further vituperations.

Gordon Mirams Replies.

"The writer apparently failed to recognise. that my remarks were satirical, © in. keeping with a_ review of a highly satirical picture. In fairness, I think: he should also Write in protest -to the producer of "Nothing Sacred" who, after all, was. "thé first to treat" *Tand of Hope and Glory" with the disrespect I still think it deserves. And I think that, not hecause Sir Edgar Elgar wrote it (L have full admiration for his reputation as a composer) but because this particulary composition, in itself very stirring, has become hackneyed by heing played from the screen-and else- . where-nearly every time there is a reference to anything particularly "British. _ That was the point of the joke in this picture, By the way, has ""Cambria" .seen it yet? Tf not, mightn’t if have been fairer to have controlled his patriotic urge until he nad? ‘Nor do I think he has given me enough credit for having used the ‘phrase "jingoistic tune’ instead of "natriotic tune’-there is a world of difference, which "Cambria,". however, could perhaps not be expected to recognise. Have another look, my friend.. at the words of "Land of Hope and Glory"’-particularly those about "wider still and wider shall her bounds he set’-and then tell me if they | aren’t a trifle too rampantly Imperialistic for this modern age? It is suggested that this subject is outside my sphere, but T hasten to point out that, to @ conscientious. critic, there is nothing sacred.