[lit-ideas] When Britain, first, at Heaven's command
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:15:43 EDT
In a message dated 9/14/2010 2:00:22 P.M., judithevans001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
writes:
yes, these days it's one of the modern arrangements, always
----
which is, I'm sure, a good thing. Imagine singing it to clavichord
accompaniment, or whatever it was that the thing was meant to be played at that
country estate (or something) where the masque was first set. I titled my
thing, 'masque', because there is some connection with 'opera', but the Brits
were very special about titling things, and while operas were staged in the
1700s -- the first under Queen Anne at the Haymarket Theatre -- a masque is
a masque is a masque rather.
Below, the full text, as per wiki;
and thanks for links to Hampson and Terfel.
The commentator at the youtube link with La Sills (the italians NEED to use
'la' before the name of a female singer -- but not necessarily a MALE
singer -- hardly "Il Caruso") did mention that she was dressed as "Britannia".
I always found the lyrics VERY kriptic, except for the verse. It's by a
Scots which may explain things (Thomson). It's all about the mythology, and
stuff.
The Masque, however, was meant as a political thing. The details by wiki
are good:
"Frederick, a German prince who arrived in England as an adult and was on
very bad terms with his father, was making considerable efforts to
ingratiate himself and build a following among his subjects-to-be (which came
to
naught, as he died before his father and never became king). A masque linking
the prince with both the medieval hero-king Alfred the Great's victories
over the Vikings and with the contemporary issue of building British sea
power went well with his political plans and aspirations."
Oddly, Buenos Ayres could do with a prom. The Argentine flag song,
"Aurora", was originally sung to Italian lyrics when the Buenos Ayres opera
house
(Colon Theatre, fancy having a theatre named 'lower intestine')
"Alta pel cielo, un'aquila guerriera" and the rather boring midi is by
Panizza, who was born Hector in Buenos Aires, but went by "Ettore" in Italy.
The lyrics are by Tosca-librettist, Luigi Illica:
----
_www.educared.org.ar/enfoco/recursos/archivo/musica.asp_
(http://www.educared.org.ar/enfoco/recursos/archivo/musica.asp)
Alta pel cielo una aquila guerriera
ardita s’erge a volo trionfale.
Ha un’ala azurra del color del mare,
ha un’ala azzurra del color del Cielo.
Cosi nell’alta aurèola irradiale
il rostro d’or punta di freccia appare,
porpora il teso collo e forma stela,
l’ali son drappo e l’aquilq è bandiera.
E la bandiera del paese mio
Nata nel sole, e ce l’ha data Iddio !
If Alfred sings of Britons ruling the waves, Mariano, in the Argentine
opera, Aurora sings of an eagle flying above him (in the interlude to the
opera, but this is SO MUCH later than the "Britons shall never be slaves")
resembling him the flag:
Alta pel cielo una aquila guerriera
high in the sky, a warrior eagle
ardita s’erge a volo trionfale.
she soars in triumphant flight
Ha un’ala azurra del color del mare,
has a blue wing, the colour of the sea.
ha un’ala azzurra del color del Cielo.
has the other wing also blue, the colour of the sky.
Cosi nell’alta aurèola irradiale
And she is high above,
il rostro d’or punta di freccia appare,
her head appears to be an arrow.
porpora il teso collo e forma stela,
the neck is purple
l’ali son drappo e l’aquilq è bandiera.
the wings, however, look like drapery, and the eagle becomes the flag.
E la bandiera del paese mio
It's the flag of my old sod!
Nata nel sole, e ce l’ha data Iddio !
Born out of the sun, and given to us by God.
Etc.
Speranza----Bordighera
----- Next: The American Anthem, and "Summertime" in Porgy and Bess.
Puccini uses the strains of the American anthem in "Madama Butterfly".
1
When Britain first, at Heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
2
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
3
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
4
Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
5
To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
6
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
Other related posts:
- » [lit-ideas] When Britain, first, at Heaven's command - Jlsperanza
