J.C. Bach Harpsichord Concerto
Joseph T. Warden
>As I was listening to my budget recording of "Favorite Harp Concertos"
>on Philips "A Touch Of Classics" label ($5.99) I suddenly encountered
>a very familiar melody.
>
>The arrangement of J.C. Bach's harpsichord concerto Op. 6 #1 for
>harp and orchestra, the third movement (allegro moderato) is "My Country
>Tis Of Thee" virtually note for note!
>
>Is this common knowledge, and I'm the last one to find out or what?
>
>Dave
I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
Dave Lampson
be...@inmet.inmet.com
Don't forget that this melody was used for "God Save the King/Queen"
*years* before it was used for "My Country Tis of Thee". Although I wasn't
aware of its use in a J. C. Bach harpsichord concerto, this doesn't
exactly come as a big surprise either. Don't forget that J. C. spent most
of his professional life in London, composing and performing music for
English audiences. It seems to me that the use of "God Save the King" in
the concerto may have been a "tip of J. C.'s hat" towards his English hosts.
If you examine the melody closely, you'll notice that it is, in fact,
a that of a galliard; the tune was probably used for dancing long before
it was used to honor the King, Queen, *or* the Rebellious American Colonies!
-- Ben Krepp
From internet: be...@inmet.inmet.com
From uunet: uunet!inmet!benk
P.S. J.C. wasn't the first/only composer to use the music of a national
anthem in a piece of "serious" (whatever that means) music. Mozart
used "William of Nassau" as the basis for a set of keyboard variations,
for example.
For another amusing use of English national music in a "serious"
piece, c.f. Beethoven's variations on "Rule Britannia". I guarantee
hearing/playing them will leave you with a smile on your face!
Peter Kendell
>I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious Queen!"......
Peter
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| Peter Kendell <pe...@tcom.stc.co.uk> |
| ...mcvax!ukc!stc!pete |
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config
In article <14700020@inmet> be...@inmet.inmet.com writes:
>
> If you examine the melody closely, you'll notice that it is, in fact,
>a that of a galliard; the tune was probably used for dancing long before
>it was used to honor the King, Queen, *or* the Rebellious American Colonies!
>
It should be pointed out that "God save the Queen/King" still is used by
Switzerland for their national anthem and was, until 1918, the tune for the
national anthem of the German Empire.
Another variation on the theme can be found in Beethoven's "Wellington's
Victory".
On the same vein, "La Marseillaise" was used as the tune for the
"Internationale" of the International Socialist movement and was used ,
until composition of the current anthem, by the Soviets.
The tune for "Deutschland uber Alles" was used by Austria until after WWII,
it's connotation with Germany being considered detracting from the fact
that Haydn, it's composer, was Austro-Hungarian.
Canada, officially, has a national anthem "O Canada" and a Royal Anthem
"God save the Queen".
Looking at "The Star Spangled Banner", it is considered by most singers
to be the most unsingable national anthem while, "America the Beautiful"
though unofficial, I consider to be one of the most beautiful in both
words and music.
Finally, it is intersting to note that "Hail to the Chief" has taken on
a air of being similar to the Royal Anthem of the British Commonwealth
as it is played as a salute in honour of the Head of State.
Now... as for Jimmy Hendrick's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner"...:-)
BOB
Roger Lustig
>In <NNF$%9...@rpi.edu> jtwa...@pawl.rpi.edu (Joseph T. Warden) writes:
>>I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
>I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious Queen!"......
I *know* it should be, 'Heil Dir im Siegerkranz!' 8-) 8-) 8-)
'King' is probably right, as the 'London' Bach wrote it during George
III's reign. Beethoven wrote variations on the same tune; Ives wrote
variations on 'America'.
Roger Lustig (RO...@PUCC.BITNET ro...@pucc.princeton.edu)
Disclaimer: I thought it was a costume party!
Joseph T. Warden
>In article <1...@sneezy.tcom.stc.co.uk>, pe...@tcom.stc.co.uk (Peter Kendell) writes:
>
>>In <NNF$%9...@rpi.edu> jtwa...@pawl.rpi.edu (Joseph T. Warden) writes:
>
>>>I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
>
>>I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious Queen!"......
>
>I *know* it should be, 'Heil Dir im Siegerkranz!' 8-) 8-) 8-)
Since we are dealing with the Hannovers I would guess this would be
appropriate.
>'King' is probably right, as the 'London' Bach wrote it during George
>III's reign. Beethoven wrote variations on the same tune; Ives wrote
>variations on 'America'.
Indeed, the origin of my response was in reference to our great friend
George III. Yes, Pete I do know that Elizabeth reigns in England...
at least when Maggie lets her...:-)
>
>Roger Lustig (RO...@PUCC.BITNET ro...@pucc.princeton.edu)
>
Joseph Warden (jtwa...@pawl.rpi.edu)
Jim Breen
>
> >I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
>
> I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious Queen!"......
>
George II and III, I think he probably thought of the first line
as "God Save our Gracious King".
([takes asbestos suit from cupboard] But then you never can tell
with the Brits. [quickly put on suit] Or Germans.)
--
_______ Jim Breen (j...@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au) Dept of Robotics &
/o\----\\ \O Digital Technology. Chisholm Inst. of Technology
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Robert Coren
j...@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Jim Breen) writes:
> In article <1...@sneezy.tcom.stc.co.uk>, pe...@tcom.stc.co.uk (Peter
Kendell) writes:
> >
> > >I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious King!"......
> >
> > I believe that should be "God Save our Gracious Queen!"......
> >
Any Brits want to straighten us out on this? It's my belief that the
first line of the British national anthem is either "God save our lord
the King" or "God save our gracious Queen", depending on the sex of
the current sovereign.
Robert
L. Talstra
> Beethoven wrote variations on the same tune; Ives wrote
>variations on 'America'.
And so did for organ:
- Christian Heinrich Rinck (1770-1846) ("Heil dir im Siegeskranz")
(Rinck was a pupil of the J.S.Bach-pupil J.C.Kittel)
- Max Reger (no dates at hand)
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Jim Breen
Hem, hem. When I was a wee tot, in the days when George VI had
the job, we sang "God Save Our Gracious King". After all, the
second line is "Long Live our Noble King."
Since then, like Canada, we have adopted a more local National
Song/Anthem (in our case "Advance Australia Fair", NOT "Waltzing
Matilda") with GSTK/Q reserved for regal/vice-regal occasions.
How many Americans (or Brits for that matter ) know the other
verses of GSTK? Admirable sentiments are expressed in the second
verse.
Jack Campin
mor...@shawm.UUCP (Bob Morrow - config) wrote:
> On the same vein, "La Marseillaise" was used as the tune for the
It wasn't.
--
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Peter Kendell
>Hmmm. Considering J.C. Bach worked in London during the reigns of
>George II and III, I think he probably thought of the first line
>as "God Save our Gracious King".
>([takes asbestos suit from cupboard] But then you never can tell
>with the Brits. [quickly put on suit] Or Germans.)
Yes, indeed. The National Anthem changes sex every time that the monarch does
(Remember that the monarchy is continous. There is *no gap* between reigns
(except possibly for that unforunate episode in the middle of the 17th
century - all true patriots and Royalists deny this, of course)). This
action is retrospective. Thus all copies of the National Anthem (unless
granted a Royal Indulgence - a rare privilege only accorded twice this
century*) are expected to change as well.
If you have a copy of the text of the British National Anthem and the words
are incorrect, then you do *not* in fact have a copy of the National Anthem,
but a counterfeit. Possession of such an artefact is, of course, the only
remaining capital offence in Britain. Upon conviction you are liable to a
penalty not exceeding 30 years' incarceration in the Tower of London,
followed by hanging, drawing, quartering and gibbeting.
Don't say you haven't been warned...
Peter
* There is one 'foul paper' in the Bodleian Library in Oxford and one in the
British Library. The signature of three members of the royal family and
the Archbishop of Canterbury are required to gain access to these unique
documents. Bone-fide students only need apply.
Eileen Batz
And let us not forget the overture to Roberto Devereaux. God
Save the King is featured prominently. But what I really like
about it is the pizzicato (sp) phase that starts in the first
violins and travels downward through the strings.
I've only heard it done live once. Can anyone recommend a
recording?
Eileen Batz
Sequent Computers Systems, Inc.