As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of classical music, I find myself captivated by the fascinating tale behind one of its most recognizable pieces – “Land of Hope and Glory.” Delving into the lives of Edward Elgar and Arthur Benson, two gentlemen from a bygone era, has been an enlightening journey.
https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-r6scex/sunday-feature/episodes/?episode=b-ao8fxa
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Alright, great job so far, music enthusiasts! However, let’s talk about classical music now. I suspected as much. It can be challenging, right? But fear not, there are a few tunes that you might recognize. And these pieces often get sung passionately during the Last Night of the Proms. With the enthusiastic waving of flags and a scattering of inflatable bananas, these songs bring joy and frustration to many people in equal amounts. Over time, they have solidified as – without a doubt – unofficial national anthems.
These timeless, crowd-pleasing classical tunes such as “Land of Hope and Glory” from 1901 (with added lyrics in 1902) and “Rule, Britannia!” dating back to 1740 are noteworthy. Their lyrics reflect the era they were written in but also carry questionable aspects.
While delving into the history of “Home of Hope and Glory,” my radio broadcast on station 3 this week, I found myself captivated by the story behind the song “Land of Hope and Glory.” It was intriguing to learn how it rose to fame not just as an Edwardian hit but also a melody that continues to resonate globally, even a century after its creation. Furthermore, I discovered that the contemporary debates surrounding its lyrics are far from new. In fact, these themes were already on the mind of both the song’s author and composer.
Let’s encounter two distinguished Edwardian gentlemen sporting impressive mustaches – composer Edward Elgar and essayist and poet Arthur Benson. The former, a household name, is renowned for his magnificent compositions. Although somewhat of an outsider, by the turn of the last century, he was already acknowledged as a titan in British music. Benson, on the other hand, was less famous but a captivating figure – an educator, academic, poet, music enthusiast, and likely one of England’s most well-connected individuals. Interestingly, I found out that I reside in his former family residence. Incredible, isn’t it?
Neither one composed a song with a patriotic theme initially. In fact, Elgar didn’t pen a song; instead, he created a march titled “Pomp and Circumstance March Number 1“. This piece, during its London debut, was so impressive that the renowned conductor Henry Wood had to play it thrice before the audience could stop applauding. When Elgar was tasked with creating something for a unique concert honoring King Edward VII’s coronation, he decided to reuse this composition. However, this time, he was asked to add lyrics and transform it into an ode. For this purpose, he collaborated with Arthur Benson.
Benson held a special place among the royals, as his family had long-standing connections with theirs; he essentially served as an unofficial poet for them. Through letters, he and another man collaborated on a song that later became famous when it was sung by the renowned contralto star of the time, Clara Butt. This story has some surprising plots and turns along the way.
Initially, the lyrics were quite dull, but due to pressure from the publisher and a surge of national pride following Britain’s triumph in the Boer War, Benson hastily wrote the verses we recognize now. However, he later spent the remainder of his life expressing regret over those very same verses.
Benson passionately expressed his disapproval towards the atrocities carried out under the banner of the British Empire during World War I, lamenting that his hastily-penned words were used with nationalistic zeal throughout the conflict. However, Elgar had penned one of the most renowned works in classical music – a catchy, universal tune capable of uniting communities.
As flags are waved during the Last Night of the Proms on September 14, you might decide against singing the lyrics for “Land of Hope and Glory” – but take note that the spectacle before you is the irresistible force of an exceptional melody at play.
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2024-09-03 19:07