Land of Hope and Glory

"Land of Hope and Glory" is a traditional British patriotic song, with music by Sir Edward Elgar and words by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.

Usage as the national anthem of England

"Land of Hope and Glory" has long been traditionally sung amidst much flag-waving at the climax of the Last Night of the BBC Proms.

At international rugby league matches, England often sang "Land of Hope and Glory" as their national anthem (but since the 2005 internationals switched to "God Save the Queen"). The song is also used as the national anthem of England at the Commonwealth Games. [Anthem 4 England - [http://anthem4england.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1 Land of Hope and Glory] ] England has no official national anthem, and usually just adopts the United Kingdom's official anthem, "God Save the Queen" during sporting events, though there are calls for this to be changed. [http://anthem4england.co.uk/] [http://www.republic.org.uk/blog/?p=47] A 2006 survey conducted by the BBC suggested that 55% of the English public would rather have "Land of Hope and Glory" than "God Save the Queen" as their national anthem. [ [http://blog.wonkosworld.co.uk/2006/03/bbc-survey-on-english-national-anthem.html BBC survey on English national anthem] ]

Composition

The music to which the words of the refrain "Land of hope and glory, &c" [It is only the music of the refrain that is in the first Pomp and Circumstance March. The words and music for the two "Solo" verses was written and composed specially for the published song and is not even in the Coronation Ode.] below are set is the "Trio" theme from Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1".Know Britain - [http://www.know-britain.com/songs/land_of_hope_and_glory.html Land of Hope and Glory] ] The words were fitted to the melody on the suggestion of King Edward VII who told Elgar he thought the melody would make a great song. When Elgar was requested to write a work for the King's coronation, he worked the suggestion into his "Coronation Ode", for which he asked the poet and essayist A. C. Benson to write the words. The last section of the "Ode" uses the march's melody.

Due to the King's illness, the coronation was postponed. Elgar created a separate song, which was first performed by Clara Butt in June 1902. In fact, only the first of the seven stanzas of the Ode's final section was re-used, as the first four lines of the second stanza below. This stanza is the part which is popularly sung today.

Lyrics

"Solo" Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned, God make thee mightier yet ! On Sov'ran [The original "Sov'ran", sometimes (for better understanding) printed "Sov'reign" = "Sovereign"] brows, beloved, renowned, Once more thy crown is set. Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained, Have ruled thee well and long ; By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained, Thine Empire shall be strong.

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, God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

"Chorus" Land of Hope and Glory, "&c."

"Solo" Thy fame is ancient as the days, As Ocean large and wide : A pride that dares, and heeds not praise, A stern and silent pride ; Not that false joy that dreams content With what our sires have won ; The blood a hero sire hath spent Still nerves a hero son.

Land of Hope and Glory, "&c."

"Chorus" Land of Hope and Glory, "&c."

"Wider still and wider"

The writing of the song is contemporaneous with the publication of Cecil Rhodes' will — in which he bequeathed his considerable wealth for the specific purpose of promoting "the extension of British rule throughout the world", and added a long detailed list of territories which Rhodes wanted brought under British rule and colonised by British people. The reference to the extension of the British Empire's boundaries may reflect the Boer War, recently won at the time of writing, in which Britain gained further territory, endowed with considerable mineral wealth. [Frederik S. Wilson, "The Culture of Colonialism", p. 135]

ee also

*"God Save the Queen"
*"Rule Britannia" - a patriotic British anthem
*"Jerusalem" - a patriotic English hymn
*"Pomp and Circumstance Marches"

References

External links

* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/Clara%20Butt%20-%20Land%20Of%20Hope%20And%20Glory.mp3 1911 performance] sung by Clara Butt from [http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/landofhopeandglory.htm www.firstworldwar.com]
* [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/m2/f7/10237.mp3 Library and Archives Canada]
* [http://anthem4england.co.uk/ Anthem4England.co.uk]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU8fK7PV_c0 Performance at the Royal Albert Hall]