Better in Norway
SIR: I read with interest the reference in the April issue to the British national anthem and that of Norway and Liechtenstein (The Old Un’s Notes). I have to confess that I have always been rather puzzled that ‘God Save the Queen’ is invariably referred to as our national anthem. The words we hear seem not to relate to a sovereign state, but rather more to a particular person, namely our sovereign. Perhaps a more natural British anthem should have been produced and the present one used only as a simple hymn of praise to the sovereign on anniversaries and birthdays.
This is, in fact, precisely what The Old Un would have heard in Norway, where
the music he thought to have been its national anthem, due to its similarity to our ‘God Save the Queen’, is used only as a hymn of praise to the monarch. The Norwegian national anthem ‘ Ja
Vi Elsker …’ written by Bjornstjerne Bjornson does not sound at all like the British national anthem and the words are dramatically different, referring to the land and homes of Norway. ‘ Ja Vi
Elsker Dette Landet’ means ‘Yes We Love this Country’, and the music is a bright and sparkling tune far removed from what I might (apologetically) refer to as the dirge of ‘God Save the Queen’.
Alex Gordon, Ipswich.
SIR: In your last issue you broached the subject of a national anthem for the English rather than the use of the UK national anthem for English events. For many years, English athletes used ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ as their national anthem for international meetings. Until the last Commonwealth Games, that is, when a flawed vote decided on using ‘Jerusalem’. It seemed that the liberal Left thought that ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ was too patriotic; surely, that is the whole point of a national anthem – to be nationalistic? Why is ‘Jerusalem’ an ideal choice? Isn’t it a bit too Christian for our multi-faith English athletes? On the other hand, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ is truly aspirational and uplifting. At least our athletes knew the words, unlike at the last outing when few could be seen singing them.
Chris Hall, Manchester.