>prefer Beethoven Yost writes. Of course the thing was created as a 'stage' thing, as sung by a tenor. The lyrics, by Thomson, a Scot, are inspired by ideas of Britons as per old Britons (hence 'never shall be slaves' of Romans, or stuff). The Albert Hall tradition is a long-standing one, to have a soloist at that point, and the wiki entry ("Rule, Britannia") mentions Lott and others who participated. Dawkins has expanded on what he calls a 'meme' there: how "Britannia, rule the waves" is sung as "Britannia RULES [as per matter of fact] the waves". Also how, 'Britons SHALL not be slaves' is turned onto "Britons WILL not be slaves]" ---- The original masque, "Afred", opened 1 August 1740 Conductor: - Thomas Arne ) Alfred tenor Thomas Lowe Emma/Venus soprano Kitty Clive Spirit/Pallas/Paris mezzo-soprano Susannah Maria Cibber Bard/Mercury bass If Yost prefers the Beethoven, call me historicist when I favour these links by Wiki: Recordings Thomas Arne's Alfred - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Nicholas Kreamer (Conductor), 1997. BBC Music Vol.V No. 10 Thomas Arne: Alfred - Philarmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, Nicholas McGegan (Conductor), 1999. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi In a message dated 9/13/2010 5:47:01 P.M., mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx writes: Prefer Beethoven's variations on said tune. John Ogden has a good recording of it. De gustibus ... ---- Speranza-----Bordighera ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html