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HistoryHistory of the tune
The first definitive published version of the present tune appeared in 1744 in Thesaurus Musicus as a setting of the familiar first verse. Undoubtedly, the song was popularized in the following year (with the landing of Charles Edward Stuart). It was certainly sung in London theatres in 1745 with, for example, Thomas Arne writing a setting of the tune for the Drury Lane Theatre. Scholes' analysis includes mention of 'untenable' and 'doubtful' claims, as well as 'an American misattribution'. Some of these are:
Scholes recommends the attribution "traditional" or "traditional; earliest known version by John Bull (1562–1628)." The English Hymnal (musical editor Ralph Vaughan Williams) gives no attribution, stating merely "17th or 18th cent."[7] History of the wordsImage:It is far better to face the bullets.jpg The phrase "God save the king" has continued be used quite separately from the song. This poster is from World War I
In 1745, The Gentleman's Magazine published "God save our lord the king: A new song set for two voices", describing it as "As sung at both Playhouses".[10] This version includes the first three verses shown in the Lyrics section below (with minor variations). Traditionally, the first performance was thought to have been in 1745, when it was sung in support of George II after the defeat of his army at the Battle of Prestonpans by the Jacobite claimant to the English and Scottish thrones, Charles Edward Stuart, whose forces were mostly Scottish. It is sometimes claimed that, ironically, the song was originally sung in support of the Jacobite cause: the word "send" in the line "Send him victorious" could imply that the king was absent. Also there are examples of early eighteenth century Jacobean drinking glasses which are inscribed with a version of the words and were apparently intended for drinking the health of James II. Scholes acknowledges these possibilities but argues that the same words were probably being used by both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporters and directed at their respective kings.[11] Around 1745, the anti-Jacobean sentiment was captured in a fourth verse, with a prayer for the success of George Wade's army then assembling at Newcastle. These words attained some short-term popularity, although they did not appear in the published version in Gentleman's Magazine:
This verse was abandoned soon after and certainly before the song became accepted as the British national anthem in the 1780s and 1790s.[12][13] Despite the short-lived currency of this verse, it is still cited as a reason for the anthem causing great offence when sung in most parts of Scotland. Various other attempts were made during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to add verses to commemorate particular royal or national events. For example, when Jacobite forces bypassed Wade's force and reached Derby, but then retreated and when their garrison at Carlisle surrendered to a second government army led by King George's son the Duke of Cumberland another verse was added, according to Fitzroy Maclean:[14] Other short-lived verses were notably anti-French.[15] However, none of these survived into the twentieth century.[16] There have been several attempts to improve the song by rewriting the words. In the nineteenth century there was some lively debate about the national anthem and, even then, verse two was considered to be slightly offensive. Notably, the question arose over the phrase "scatter her enemies". Some thought it placed better emphasis on the respective power of Parliament and the Crown to change "her" to "our"; others pointed out that the theology was somewhat dubious and substituted "thine" instead. Sydney G. R. Coles wrote a completely new version, as did Canon F. K. Harford.[17] In 1836, William Edward Hickson wrote four alternative verses. The first, third, and fourth of these verses are appended to the National Anthem in the English Hymnal (which only includes verses one and three of the original lyrics). Use in the CommonwealthIt was formerly used as a national anthem by most of the Commonwealth Realms, including Australia, Canada, and Jamaica. It was replaced by Advance Australia Fair, O Canada, and Jamaica, Land We Love respectively, though it remains those countries' royal anthem and is played during formal ceremonies involving the Royalty or viceroyalty (Governors-General, Governors, and Lieutenant-Governors - see Vice Regal Salute). In Canada God Save the Queen has not been adopted as the Royal Anthem by statute or proclamation, however it has come to be used as such through convention, and is sometimes sung together with O Canada at public events.[18] The song, in Australia has standing through a Royal Proclamation issued by Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen on April 19, 1984.[19] It continues to be recognised as the national anthem of New Zealand, together with God Defend New Zealand, although it is almost never performed as such.[20] Use elsewhere"God Save the King" was the very first song to be used as a national anthem, although the Netherlands' national anthem, the Wilhelmus, is older. Its success prompted a number of imitations, notably in France and, later, Germany. Both commissioned their own songs to help construct a concrete national(ist) identity. The first German national anthem was a copy of "God Save the King" with the words changed to Heil dir im Siegerkranz and sung to the same tune as the British version. The tune was either used or officially adopted as the national anthem for several other countries, including those of Russia (until 1833), Sweden, and Switzerland. It is also the melody to the United States patriotic hymn "Let Freedom Ring" (better known by its first line, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"), and was played during the Presidential Inauguration parade of President George W. Bush on 20 January, 2001. In Iceland it is called Eldgamla Ísafold. The tune is also used as Norway's Royal anthem entitled Kongesangen. The rock band Queen plays "God Save the Queen" at the end of all of their concerts. The tune is still used as the national anthem of Liechtenstein, Oben am jungen Rhein. When England met Liechtenstein in a Euro 2004 qualifier, the same tune was therefore played twice, causing some minor confusion. The melody of "God Save the King" has been and continues to be used as a hymn tune by Christian churches in various countries. The United Methodists of the southern United States, Mexico, and Latin America, among other denominations (usually Protestant), play the same melody as a hymn. The Christian hymn "Glory to God on High" is frequently sung to the same tune, as well as an alternate tune that fits both lyrics. Musical adaptationsClassical composersIn total, about 140 composers, including Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms, have used the tune in their compositions.[21] Johann Christian Bach composed a set of variations on "God Save the King" for the finale to his sixth keyboard concerto (Op. 1) written c. 1763. Joseph Haydn was impressed by the use of "God Save the King" as a national anthem during his visit to London in 1794, and on his return to Austria wrote a tune to the national anthem, the "God Save Emperor Franz" (Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser), for the birthday of the Emperor Franz of Austria. The tune of "God Save the King" was later adopted for the Prussian national anthem Heil Dir im Siegerkranz. Ludwig van Beethoven composed a set of seven piano variations in the key of C major to the theme of "God Save the King", catalogued as WoO.78 (1802–1803). Muzio Clementi, another composer who used the theme to "God Save the King", placed this theme into his 3rd symphony in B major. This work is dubbed the "Great National" and is catalogued as WoO. 34. Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix of the The Jimi Hendrix Experience played an impromptu version of "God Save the Queen" to open his set at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970. Just before walking onto the stage, he can be seen (on the DVD) and heard to ask "How does it go again?" in reference to the said National Anthem. He was able just to hear it mimicked by voice and then perform it. His relatively accurate lead-guitar rendition of 'God Save the Queen' can be viewed in stark contrast to his performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Woodstock Festival, 1969. Queen cover
The rock band Queen recorded an instrumental version of "God Save the Queen" on their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. It was arranged by guitarist Brian May and features his distinctive layers of overdubbed electric guitars. A tape of this version would be played at the end of almost every concert, with Freddie Mercury walking around the stage wearing a crown and a cloak on their Magic Tour in 1986. On 3 June 2002, during the Queen's Golden Jubilee, Brian May performed the anthem on his Red Special electric guitar for Party at the Palace, performing from the roof of Buckingham Palace. Sex PistolsThe Sex Pistols controversial 1977 song God Save the Queen shares only a title with the British national anthem: both the words and music were written by the band. At the time of its release it was regarded by much of the general public to be an assault on Queen Elizabeth II and the British monarchy. Other UK anthemsFrequently, when an anthem is needed for one of the component countries of the UK—at an international sporting event, for instance—an alternative song is used:
PerformanceThe style most commonly heard in official performances was proposed as the "proper interpretation" by King George V, who considered himself something of an expert (in view of the number of times he had heard it). An Army Order was duly issued, in 1933, which laid down regulations for tempo, dynamics and orchestration. This included instructions such as that the opening "six bars will be played quietly by the reed band with horns and basses in a single phrase. Cornets and side-drum are to be added at the little scale-passage leading into the second half of the tune, and the full brass enters for the last eight bars". The official tempo for the opening section is a metronome setting of 60, with the second part played in a broader manner, at a metronome setting of 52.[22] In recent years the prescribed sombre-paced introduction is often played at a faster and livelier tempo. Until the latter part of the 20th century, theatre and concert goers were expected to stand to attention while the anthem was played after the conclusion of a show. In cinemas this brought a tendency for audiences to rush out while the end credits played to avoid this formality. The anthem was traditionally played at closedown on the BBC and with the introduction of commercial television to the UK this practice was adopted by some ITV regions. BBC Two never played the anthem at closedown, and ITV dropped the practice in the late 1980s, but it continued on BBC One until 8 November 1997 (thereafter BBC1 began to simulcast with News 24 after end of programmes). The tradition is carried on, however, by BBC Radio 4. The anthem always prefaces the The Queen's Christmas Message. Cultural references
Lyrics"Standard" British versionThere is no definitive version of the lyrics. However, the version consisting of the following three verses has the best claim to be regarded as the "standard" British version. It appears, for example, not only in the 1745 Gentleman's Magazine but also in publications such as The Book of English Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Ninteenth Century (1851) [23], National Hymns: How They are Written and how They are Not Written (1861),[24] Household Book of Poetry (1882),[25] and Hymns Ancient and Modern, revised version (1982)[26]. The same version with verse two omitted appears in publications including Scouting for boys (1908)[27] and on the UK Government's "Monarchy Today" website.[28]
In the United Kingdom, the first verse is the only verse typically sung, even at official occasions, although the third verse is sung in addition on rare occasions. William Hixton's alternative versionWilliam Hixton's alternative (1836) version includes the following verses, of which the first, third, and fourth have some currency as they are appended to the National Anthem in the English Hymnal .
Version sung in CanadaSince "God Save the Queen" is the Royal Anthem of Canada, the first verse has been translated into French for use in that country, as shown below.
A bilingual verse is often sung in Canada on Remembrance Day
As sung in English in Canada, "God Save the Queen" has an additional English verse, sung after the first or second verse, which is also given below. In general use in Canada, however, only the first verse is sung.
New Zealand versionIn New Zealand, the second more militaristic verse is replaced with Hixtons verse "Nor in this land alone..." (often sung as Not in this land alone"), otherwise known as a "Commonwealth verse". However, that verse is primarily used only when the anthem is played past the first verse. Official peace versionA less militaristic version of the song, entitled "Official peace version, 1919", was first published in the hymn book Songs of Praise in 1925.[29] This was "official" in the sense that it was approved by the Privy Council in 1919.[30] However, despite being reproduced in some other hymn books, it is largely unknown today.[31]
Unofficial peace versionAn unofficial peace version was written in 1958 by Henry Young for the first Aldermaston CND march and is taken from his collection of poems From Talk to Action: The fight for peace
Footnote
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