Forum Topic

Patriotic Music

Does anyone besides me have favourite music, both vocal and choral, of any nation, which falls into the "patriotic" genre? Before some twerp says I am being racist, or some other equally incorrect term, I am not suggesting to include such compositions as "There ain't no black in the Union Jack!" and "There's not enough white in the Stars and Stripes." No doubt we will all be astounded by others suggested by the twerpery!No, I am referring to national anthems and other music of a patriotic nature.My personal favourite is the old German Democratic Republic's anthem - "Auferstanden aus Ruinen". I don't understand much of it as sung but it's a pleasant melody, sourced from a brothel song apparently.For a non-vocal, well, there don't seem to be official words, then the Spanish national anthem.

Alan Brainsby ● 6522d24 Comments

The only decent one I can think of is Jimi Hendrix's live performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the end of the Woodstock festival. Utterly painful to listen to, but that was kind of the point.

Mark Dudley ● 6522d

Although of course Hendrix's performance was neither vocal nor choral.

Mark Dudley ● 6522d

I think that the old Soviet Union Anthem, now re instated by Putin is quite stirring, and our French friends have a good one too. Both revolutionary in nature, so some would say that it proves 'The Devil' has the best tunes.Elgar of course wrote one or two that could be our National Anthem, but maybe not as they appeared somewhat 'Revolutionary',which possibly would have frightened Politicians of the time, with the Bolshevics on the horizon then.

Colin Vaughan ● 6522d

http://folk.ntnu.no/makarov/temporary_url_20070929kldcg/anthem-russia-2000-1.mp3

Francis House ● 6522d

Vive le Quebec!(Hope this works)

Marlene Plimley ● 6522d

RE    My personal favourite is the old German Democratic Republic's anthem         xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        At the risk of raising a few blood pressures, one that sticks in my mind is one sung by youthful members of a political party in Germany ( before division ) in a film called CABARET which featured Liza Minelli and Michael York

Tony Price ● 6522d

http://download.sovmusic.ru/m/ddrhymn.mp3will give the GDR anthem.

Alan Brainsby ● 6522d

I hate to admit it, but the French beat us hands down in this department. La Marseillaise stirs me like no other national anthem.

Alex Weel ● 6522d

Ma Vlast?

Sara Nathan ● 6521d

"God Save the Queen".  When I belted this out at the Athens Olympics when Kelly Holmes won her golds it was made to measure...cue roll of drums and then "send her vict-or-i-ous, happy and glor-i-ous, long to-o reign over us, GSTQ".  So releasing of emotion!

Barbara Yerolemou ● 6521d

Is it the bitQu'un sang impur,Abreuve nos sillons?

Alan Brainsby ● 6521d

'Anarchy in the UK'?

Keith Iddon ● 6521d

I like "Ode to Joy" which I believe is the European antham

Mavis Walker ● 6521d

I always think of'Greensleeves'(the tune at least)as being very evocative of England.

Keith Iddon ● 6521d

What about "On the banks of the green willow" - sort of Vaughan Williamsy and excessively English almost.

Sara Nathan ● 6521d

Have you hear'Fantasia on Gree Sleeves' by Vaughan Williams?It is wonderful.

Keith Iddon ● 6521d

Re  What about "On the banks of the green willow" - sort of Vaughan Williamsy and excessively English almost.           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      actually written by Butterworh, sadly killed while a young man in the trenches of France in WW 1.

Tony Price ● 6521d

Wonderful piece though isn't it and the fate of the composer - knew it was Butterworth at the back of my brain but not his fate - only makes it more poignant and English.And yes, I do love the Vaughan Williams' Greensleeves.

Sara Nathan ● 6520d

Most stirring rendition of a national anthem?No contest.The Welsh in the Millennium Stadium.Pity about their team's result though.

Graham Weeks ● 6520d

Well done Marlene on posting your First Video, If Jim was still posting he would have Awarded you this...                                                  [IMG]http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo103/telford55/animlogo.gif[/IMG] Well done, Hugh.[IMG]http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo103/telford55/valrose.gif[/IMG]                 

Hugh Telford ● 6520d

Well done Marlene on posting your First Video,If Jim was still posting he would have Awarded you this...                                                                                                                                                                                                            Well done, Hugh.

Hugh Telford ● 6520d

God save the queen

Peter Davies ● 6520d

The French and the Welsh have the best tunes for singing along, La Marseilaise especially in the film Caablanca and the Welsh, Mae hen wlad fy nhadau, Bread from Evanses (Cwm Rhonda) and Calon Lan.  As a child when returning to Wales over the Horeshoe Pass we always sang all three.

Libby Kemp ● 6519d

I went to a funeral yesterday and we sang neither "Praise my soul the king of heaven" nor "Jerusalem" nor "I vow to thee my country"The first is my favourite hymn - along with "He who would valiant be" but the last two are definitely up there for most effective patriotic songs.

Sara Nathan ● 6516d