Stratford Normal School - Classic Yearbook (Stratford, Ontario Canada)

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The Classic Jung, 1911 SHORT TALK ON BRITISH NATIONAL MELODIES. CBy J. Bottomley, A. R. C. O.j POSSIBLY a short talk on some British national tunes might be somewhat appropriate today, in view of Empire Day. The first song I will refer to is the most important, and also it happens to be first in date. I refer to God Save the King. The British National Anthem, so well known the world over, is a tune that has lived for nearly 300 years. In a MS. book attributed to Dr. John Bull fwho was a famous musicianb, and dated 1619, the melody first appears, although it was not published until 1742. The most essential pecu- liarity of the tune is that it is in two sections of unequal length. The first G bars, the second 8 bars. The tune was a great favorite with VVeber, the great composer, he made use of it several times in liis compositions. It was also a great favorite with the great and immortal Beethoven. In Beethoven's journal, referring to one of his compositions wherein he uses the tune, Beethoven says: I must show the English a little what a blessing they have in 'God Save the Kingf Dr. John Bull was born in 1562. In 1582 he was appointed or- ganist of Hereford Cathedral. In 1591 he petitioned Queen Eliza- beth for a yearly allowance of S30 to relieve his great poverty, which altogether hindered his studies. In 1601 Dr. Bull went abroad for the recovery of his health. But according to one historian, Bull left England owing to his being possessed with crotchets, as many musi- cians are. In 1617 he was appointed organist of Antwerp Cathedral. He died in Antwerp 1628. He was a very ingenious composer and as a player he was in the very first rank. God Save tl1e King, MS. 1619, first published 1742-Dr. John Bull, 15132-1628. God Save tl1e King is sometimes ascribed to Henry Carey, who performed it in 1742. XVith regard to God Save the King, after it became so popular and spread to the continent, it was copied into a German song book fthe music, of coursej and Rev. Charles F. Smith, a Baptist clergy- man of Boston, got hold of the book, and in humming over some of the tunes was struck by the appropriateness of this one for a national air. He accordingly sought to apply it to that use and at once wrote the words of My Country 'Tis of Thee, and set them to this music. Smith was a graduate of Harvard 518293 and the first time the tune was sung in the C. S. was 4th of Julv, 1832. This was in the Park Street Baptist Church, Boston. and the author became famous for all time, at least in the U. S. He had, however, no idea that his tune was the British National Anthem, and the people of the U. S-, generally speaking, are still ignorant of its origin. Many think, or pretend, we stole it from them.-B. S. N. The next song I wish to mention is Rule Britannia. The music of this ode in honor of Great Britain was composed by Dr. Arne and was first performed August lst, 1740. The occasion was to com. 10 E 1 223 03703 3 1833 l

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I The Classic June, 1911 The value of character is the standard of human progress. The in- dividual, the Community. the nation, tells its standing, its achieve- ment, its worth, its true wealth and glory in the eye of God hy' its estimation of character. Perhaps, you have been on the shores of a lake one day, when you carelessly threw a stone into the water. It splashed down into the depths of the Howing water-and that was all. No, it was not all. If we look at those eoneentrie rings, rolling their tiny ripples among the reeds, producing an influence slight, but conscious, to the very shores of the lake itself. So we hy our thoughts, words and deeds, are exerting a silent hut certain influence upon the world around us. It is thought that the greatest influence exerted upon others' lives is through our deeds, If we treat others kindly, honestly and uprightly they will invariahly treat us the same. A great influence is exerted hy the words of our lips. .X kind word spoken at the right time has often heen the means of inspir- ing a discouraged one to take hope again. Xlvhen a person speaks angrily to us we are prone to answer in the same tone, hut if we but answer that person kindly, it may he the means of making that anger disappear. The last but not the least influences of one's eharaet-er are those exerted hy our thoughts. XYe might ask the question: Have the thoughts of one any eileet on one's eountenanee? XVe should surely answer in the affirmative. lt our thoughts are Centered on that which is pure and idealistie, it will have a high idealizing effeet upon our lives. We might ask the question: XYho has the greatest intlueneef' I would say, the one who is heing taken as an example hy others. For instance, teachers, who have lives entrusted to their care day by day, have a marked intluenee on their eliaraeters. So, they. especially should aim at an ideal eliaraeter. In conclusion, I would say that we are all exerting a world- wide iniluenee greater than any of us eare to acknowledge, so- XYe can never he too eareful XYhat the seeds our hands shall sow, Love troin love is sure to ripen, Hate from hate is sure to grow. Seeds of good or ill we scatter, Heedlessly along our way, A glad or grievous fruitag-e YYaits us at the harvest day. Whatso'er our sowing he Reaping, we its fruits must see. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truthsi XYin ns with honest triiles, to betray us In deepest consequence. 9

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The Classic June, 191 1 memorate the accession of George I., and the birthday of Princess Augusta. Dr. Arne composed an opera entitled Alfred, and in the advertisement it is announced that Alfred will conclude with a favorable ode in honor of Great Britain, beginning: 'AWhen Britain first at heavens command - The words were written by Thompson, who collaborated with Dr. Arne in work of this kind. Southey said: This will be the political hymn of Britain as long as she maintains her political power. 1Vagner, the great German composer, said: The first eight notes of the tune sum up the whole British character. He composed an overture on the tune. Dr. Arne, son of an upholsterer, was born in London, 1710. He was educated at Eton- His father intended him for the profession of the law, but his love of music predominated, and his father per- mitted him to follow the bent of his inclination. Dr. Arne was a great and prolific composer, opera after opera did he compose. His songs include Shakespeare's Blow, Blow Thou XYinter Vi'ind, also Shakespeare's XYhere the Bee Sucks, both beautiful settings. ' The writer in Groves Dictionary of Music says: This song will continue to be heard as long as love of country animates the breasts of Englishmen. Dr. Arne died 1778. Rule Britannia 1740. Dr. Arne 1710-1778. The next song I wish to refer to is Hearts of Oak. This has been a national and a very popular song ever since it was published, and is very popular still. The words were written by David Garrick, 1717-1779, actor and dramatist, and, as you will know, they appear in the third book of our Ontario readers. The music was composed by Dr. Boyce, 1710-1770, a very distinguished organist and composer. The song was first sung in 1759, and at once became immensely popu- lar. British feeling was strong in that yea1', for a French invasion was threatened, and the British admirals were keeping the foe at bay. Dr. Boyce, born 1710, was the son of a cabinet maker. He be- came a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral, and afterwards was made organist and composer to the Chapel Royal. Some of his Hne anthems are still, and will long continue to be in use in choirs and places where they sing, He died in 1779, and was buried in the vault under the centre of the dome of St. Pauls Cathedral. Hearts of Oak, 1759. Dr. Boyce, 1710-1779. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time: And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow: a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. 11