User:RandomCanadian/List of compositions based on the British national anthem
"God Save the Queen" (alternatively "God Save the King", depending upon the gender of the monarch) has been used as a de facto national anthem in the United Kingdom since the middle of the 18th century.[1][2] In countries not previously part of the British Empire, the tune of "God Save the Queen" has provided the basis for various patriotic songs, though still generally connected with royal ceremony.[3]
The use and popularity of the song has led to the usage of the tune by over a hundred composers in their works.[4]
Other anthems edit
- Siegfried August Mahlmann in the early 19th century wrote alternate lyrics to adapt the hymn for the Kingdom of Saxony, as "Gott segne Sachsenland" ("God Bless Saxony").[5]
List of compositions edit
| Composer | Work | Year | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludwig van Beethoven | 7 Variations on 'God Save the King', WoO 78 | c. 1802-1803 | [6] |
| Muzio Clementi | Symphony No. 3 in G major, WoO 34 | c. 1816-1824 | [7] |
| Johann Christian Bach | Op. 1 no. 6 / mvt III Allegro moderato [Variations on "God Save the King"] | c. 1763 | [8] |
| Franz Liszt | God Save the Queen, S.235 | c. 1841 | [9] |
| Christian Heinrich Rinck | Piano Trio Op. 34 No. 1 (last movement) | 1815 | |
| Christian Heinrich Rinck | Theme and Variations in C Major on "Heil dir im Siegerkranz" (God Save the King), Op. 55 | ||
| Niccolò Paganini | Variations on "God Save the King", Op. 9 | ||
| Max Reger | Variations and Fugue on 'Heil dir im Siegerkranz' (God Save the King) for organ | 1901 | |
| Giuseppe Verdi | Inno delle nazioni | 1862 | |
| Sigismond Thalberg | Fantasia on "God Save the King" | ||
| Johan Nepomuk Hummel | Variations from God Save the King in D major, op. 10 | ||
| Adrien-François Servais and Joseph Ghys | Variations brillantes et concertantes sur l'air "God Save the King", op. 38, for violin and cello |
Carl Maria von Weber uses the "God Save the King" theme at the end of his "Jubel Overture".
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 composed "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" ("God Save Emperor Francis") for the birthday of the last Holy Roman Emperor and Roman-German King, Francis II. It became the anthem of the Austrian Empire after the end of the Holy Roman Empire with revised lyrics, its tune ultimately being used for the German national anthem. The tune of "God Save the King" was adopted for the Prussian royal anthem "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz".
Johann Strauss I quoted "God Save the Queen" in full at the end of his waltz Huldigung der Königin Victoria von Grossbritannien (Homage to Queen Victoria of Great Britain) Op. 103, where he also quoted Rule, Britannia! in full at the beginning of the piece.
Heinrich Marschner used the anthem in his "Grande Ouverture solenne", op.78 (1842).
Gaetano Donizetti used this anthem in his opera "Roberto Devereux".
Joachim Raff used this anthem in his Jubelouverture, Opus 103 (1864) dedicated to Adolf, Herzog von Nassau, on the 25th anniversary of his reign.
Gioachino Rossini used this anthem in the last scene of his "Il viaggio a Reims", when all the characters, coming from many different European countries, sing a song which recalls their own homeland. Lord Sidney, bass, sings "Della real pianta" on the notes of "God Save the King". Samuel Ramey used to interpolate a spectacular virtuoso cadenza at the end of the song.
Fernando Sor used the anthem in his 12 Studies, Op. 6: No. 10 in C Major in the section marked 'Maestoso.'
Arthur Sullivan quotes the anthem at the end of his ballet Victoria and Merrie England.
Claude Debussy opens with a brief introduction of "God Save the King" in one of his Preludes, Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C.. The piece draws its inspiration from the main character of the Charles Dickens novel The Pickwick Papers.
A week before the Coronation Ode was due to be premiered at the June 1902 "Coronation Gala Concert" at Covent Garden (it was cancelled, owing to the King's illness), Sir Edward Elgar introduced an arrangement of "Land of Hope and Glory" as a solo song performed by Clara Butt at a "Coronation Concert" at the Albert Hall. Novello seized upon the prevailing patriotism and requested that Elgar arrange the National Anthem as an appropriate opening for a concert performed in front of the Court and numerous British and foreign dignitaries. This version for orchestra and chorus, which is enlivened by use of a cappella and marcato effects, was also performed at the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley on St. George's Day, 1924, and recorded under the composer's Baton in 1928, with the LSO and the Philharmonic Choir.[10] Elgar also used the first verse of the Anthem as the climax of a short "Civic Procession and Anthem", written to accompany the mayoral procession at the opening of the Hereford Music Festival on 4 September 1927. This premiere performance was recorded, and is today available on CD; the score was lost following the festival, and Elgar resorted to reconstructing it by ear from the recording.[11]
Benjamin Britten arranged "God Save the Queen" in 1961 for the Leeds Festival. This version has been programmed several times at the Last Night of the Proms.[12]
Charles Ives wrote Variations on "America" for organ in 1891 at age seventeen. It included a polytonal section in three simultaneous keys, though this was omitted from performances at his father's request, because "it made the boys laugh out loud". Ives was fond of the rapid pedal line in the final variation, which he said was "almost as much fun as playing baseball". The piece was not published until 1949; the final version includes an introduction, seven variations and a polytonal interlude. The piece was adapted for orchestra in 1963 by William Schuman. This version became popular during the bicentennial celebrations, and is often heard at pops concerts.
Muthuswami Dikshitar (1776–1835), one of the musical trinity in South Indian classical (Carnatic) music composed some Sanskrit pieces set to Western tunes. These are in the raga Sankarabharanam and are referred to as "nottu swaras". Among these, the composition "Santatam Pahimam Sangita Shyamale" is set to the tune of "God Save the Queen".
Georges Onslow (1784–1853) used the tune in his String Quartet No. 7 in G Minor, op.9, second movement.
Hans Huber used the melody ("Rufst du, mein Vaterland") in the first movement of his Symphony no 3 in C minor, op. 118 ("Heroic").
Ferdinando Carulli used the melody in Fantaisie sur un air national anglais, for recorder & guitar, Op. 102.
Louis Drouet composed "Variations on the air God save the King" for flute and piano.
Gordon Jacob wrote a choral arrangement of God Save the Queen with a trumpet fanfare introduction, for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.[13]
- ^ "National Anthem". The official website of The British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Isle of Man". nationalanthems.info. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ "United Kingdom – God Save the Queen". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Berry, Ciara (2016-01-15). "National Anthem". The Royal Family. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ^ Granville Bantock (1913). Sixty Patriotic Songs of All Nations. Ditson. p. xv.
- ^ "7 Variations on 'God Save the King', WoO 78 (Beethoven, Ludwig van)". IMSLP.
- ^ "Symphony No.3, G major, WoO 34 (Great National Symphony) | Muzio Clementi". Daniels' Orchestral Music Online. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Keyboard Concerto in D major, W.C 54 (Bach, Johann Christian)". IMSLP.
- ^ "God Save the Queen, S.235 (Liszt, Franz) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download". imslp.org.
- ^ "His Music : Orchestral Arrangements and Transcriptions". Elgar. Archived from the original on 11 October 1997. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ^ Jerrold Northrop Moore, Edward Elgar, a Creative Life, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1987
- ^ "Benjamin Britten – The National Anthem". Boosey.com. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ^ Range, Matthias (2012). Music and Ceremonial at British Coronations: From James I to Elizabeth II. Cambridge University Press. pp. 256–257. ISBN 978-1-107-02344-4.