Proposed English National Anthems
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Currently, England does not have an official anthem, and so adopts "God Save the Queen", which is the United Kingdom and Commonwealth anthem. However many popular patriotic songs are sung in its place. In April 2007, MP Greg Mulholland introduced an Early Day Motion proposing that England have its own national anthem.[1] Many have been used or proposed as a separate national anthem. These songs include:
Land of Hope and GloryLyricsDear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned. Land of Hope and Glory, mother of the Free, Thy fame is ancient as the days, HistoryIt is particularly noted for being played on the occasion of the Last Night of the Proms amidst much flag-waving, and for having long been seen as the unofficial anthem of the Conservative Party. The tune for the song was taken from the first of Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance marches. The song is also used as the anthem of England at the Commonwealth Games; England, as part of the United Kingdom, has as its anthem God Save the Queen (or King). JerusalemLyricsAnd did those feet in ancient time HistoryThe most famous version of this famous poem is the song, with music by Hubert Parry, which was orchestrated by Sir Edward Elgar in 1922 for a large orchestra at the Leeds Festival. Upon hearing the orchestral version for the first time, King George V said that he preferred that "Jerusalem" replace "God Save the King" as the national anthem. The poem's idealistic theme or subtext accounts for its popularity across the philosophical spectrum. It was used as a campaign slogan by the Labour Party in the 1945 general election. (Clement Attlee said they would build "a new Jerusalem"). The song is also the unofficial anthem of the Women's Institute, and historically was used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies. It has also been sung at conferences of the Conservative Party. It is frequently sung as an office or recessional hymn in English cathedrals, churches and chapels on St George's Day. The hymn is also sung in some churches on Jerusalem Sunday, a day set aside to celebrate the holy city, in Anglican Churches throughout the world and even in some Episcopal Churches in the United States. However some vicars in the Church of England, according to the BBC TV programme "Jerusalem:An Anthem for England", have said that the song is not technically a hymn, as it is not a prayer to God (which hymns always are). Consequently, it is not sung in some churches in England. Since "Jerusalem" is considered to be England's most popular patriotic song, it has often been used as an alternative national anthem and there have been calls to give it official status[2]. However as a Romanticist poem it has come under criticism, mainly for asking four questions: each with a literal answer of 'no'. Consequently some see it as unsuitable as an English national anthem, especially as its reference to a foreign city would be puzzling to other nations. Ultimately, none of the English national anthems have any relation to England itself (excepting Jerusalem). Instead, British national cultures are used in "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory". Rule, Britannia!Lyrics1. When Britain first, at Heaven's command HistoryIt is traditionally performed at the BBC's Last Night of the Proms, normally with a guest soloist (past performers have included Jane Eaglen, Thomas Hampson and Felicity Lott). However, in recent years the inclusion of the song and other patriotic tunes has been much criticised—notably by Leonard Slatkin—and the presentation has been occasionally amended.[3] References
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