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Originally posted by TeinosukeIndeed arguments in both directions. However, I have relatives by marriage who went back as far as the Risorgimiento. They say their grandparents would talk about the Verdi signs everywhere during the period. I agree Verdi had nothing to do with it nor was he a revolutionary like Wagner was in the 1840's. I agree entirely that the "Va Pensiero" as national anthem may have started as a myth, but has indeed taken a life of its own. MY wife and I honeymooned in Rome. Her uncle Michele was an ardent opera fanatic. He openly talked about preferring "Va Pensiero" to Canto degli Italiani. Inasmuch as that not making it fact frequently these legends have more reality than scholars can uncover. I myself prefer it to their current anthem.
There's some scholarly doubt about this story! Here's Roger Parker, from a lecture entitled 'Verdi and Milan'.
http://www.gresham.ac.uk/print/2092
Pieces such as 'Va pensiero' became, and to some degree have remained, entangled in an alluring tale about opera and politics, a neat tying-together of the two that we seem willing and eager to consume siero' became a potent recollection of simpler times.
However, the material you cite makes a compelling argument to the contrary and is very well written indeed. Perhaps the truth lays somewhere in the middle. Lastly just because Mussollini did does not make it entirely awful. After all he did make the trains run on time! Also, if Parker is indeed correct the "Va Pensiero" chorus as anthem still ends up being a darn good yarn!
Originally posted by TeinosukeWonderful clips indeed, and I stand corrected!
Not really 1619, though a melody by John Bull from that date apparently has some similarities. However, the anthem as anthem is really an eighteenth-century creation.
For me, far and away the most stirring national song we have is 'Jerusalem' ('And did those feet in ancient time...'😉. Magnificent words by a great poet, William Blake, and a wonderfully s ...[text shortened]... by the crowd at the Last Night of the Proms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8VH0sbEU20
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Originally posted by TeinosukeMy Spaniard friends have never explained why their anthem has no words. Do you know? It is quite beautiful.
...while the Spanish National Anthem has no words at all!
Uruguay's is amongst the prettiest and quite operatic.
I also like your choice of Bulgaria's anthem. Quite intriguing!
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Originally posted by SuzianneTrue. Other nations move on, but the U.S. seems frozen in time, unwilling to change even in the face of overwhelming evidence in favor of change. We keep the penny, don't do simple things to help the visually impaired such as make different denominations of paper bills different sizes, we can't cope with the dead-easy metric system, we fetishize guns and equate them with freedom, we don't incorporate the fantastically superior roundabout concept in our roadway system -- on and on it goes...
I would love to change our National Anthem to America the Beautiful, but it will never, ever, ever in a gazillion years be changed.
...Oh, and we cling to a national anthem that sounds like a cat fight and basically idolizes the flag. Huh.
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Originally posted by scacchipazzoMy Spaniard friends have never explained why their anthem has no words. Do you know? It is quite beautiful.
The Spanish anthem has never had official words, but it did have unofficial words in the time of Franco. These were abandoned after the dictator's death and it has been wordless ever since.
The Spanish Olympic Committee, making a bid to host the games in 2016, apparently suggested that now would be a sensible time to make some new words. According to Wikipedia, the main problem seems to be the diversity of the Spanish regions, many of which have their own anthems, and which might have problems agreeing on a wording to represent the whole of Spain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcha_Real
I also like your choice of Bulgaria's anthem. Quite intriguing!
The Bulgarian anthem has such a uniquely Slavic sound. I realise I tend to like anthems which have a certain undertone of sadness / wistfulness to them, in wording or melody or both. I prefer 'Jerusalem' to my country's other national songs because it acknowledges that we have problems and need to strive to improve our country, rather than unthinkingly celebrating it. And I'm also very fond of the Israeli anthem "Hatikvah", with a melody also used by Smetana in 'Ma Vlast", in a minor key, and with those wistful words, "Our hope is not yet lost".
Originally posted by SoothfastAlas, alas, what a thought!
And here I thought the Godzilla films were the pinnacle of Japanese cinema!
If you're looking for some really great Japanese cinema, I recommend Kenji Mizoguchi (Ugetsu, Sansho the Bailiff - two masterpieces of humanist cinema in period settings) and Yasujiro Ozu (Late Spring, Early Summer, Tokyo Story - a trilogy of understated family dramas that speak volumes about change, relationships, and the ageing process.
Originally posted by TeinosukeThank you.
Teinosuke Kinugasa isn't my favourite Japanese director, but has the advantage as a username that no one else is likely to pick it! The quality of the work of this director, who lived from 1896 to 1982, is inconsistent, but his avant-garde silent film A Page of Madness (1926) is one of the masterpieces of Japanese and world cinema in the 1920s. Gate of Hell (1953), one of Japan's first colour films, is also admired by many.
Originally posted by TeinosukeHow about the Thai anthem?
I realise I tend to like anthems which have a certain undertone of sadness / wistfulness to them, in wording or melody or both.
Personally, I dislike it word wise, as it's quite indirectly threatening in a way of it's own IMHO.
The words are, as translated:
"Thailand embraces in its bosom all people of Thai blood
Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais
It has long maintained its sovereignty
Because the Thais have always been united
The Thai people are peace-loving
But they are no cowards at war
They shall allow no one to rob them of their independence
Nor shall they suffer tyranny
All Thais are ready to give up every drop of blood
For the nation's safety, freedom and progress."
Here's the anthem itself:
Very regimented, if you ask me.
-----------------------------
However, we also have a Royal Thai Anthem, for the Royal family, which I find much more serene.
Words are:
"I, subject of His great Majesty,
Prostrate my heart and head,
To pay respect to the King, whose merits are boundless,
Sole and supreme Sovereign,
The greatest of Siam,
The greatest in honor,
We are joyous because of the royal rule,
The fruits of your merits preserve
The people in happiness and peace,
May it be that
whatever He wills,
be done
according to the hopes of His great heart
as we wish Him victory, hurrah! "
sounded here:
Much more representative of Thai culture. 😉
-m.
Originally posted by mikelomFrightening! Beyond bellicose! Is the music pretty at least?
How about the Thai anthem?
Personally, I dislike it word wise, as it's quite indirectly threatening in a way of it's own IMHO.
The words are, as translated:
"Thailand embraces in its bosom all people of Thai blood
Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais
It has long maintained its sovereignty
Because the Thais have always been united
The ...[text shortened]... w.youtube.com/watch?v=iV5s19ISOYU
Much more representative of Thai culture. 😉
-m.
Originally posted by mikelomWell as long as they're congruent that is great! Perhaps it should be used as background music for horror films? Incidental music for theater of the macabre? Might actually work!
For the King's anthem yes; for the National anthem?... As frightening as the words... lol.
-m.
Originally posted by SuzianneI would love to get rid of God Save The Queen for NZ and UK
I would love to change our National Anthem to America the Beautiful, but it will never, ever, ever in a gazillion years be changed.
A new UK anthem would be problematic though as I am not aware of
any song that celebrates the whole of the UK.
(Land of Hope & Glory is too English)
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Originally posted by wolfgang59You don't like Rule Britannia? That basically covers the whole UK, does it not?
I would love to get rid of God Save The Queen for NZ and UK
A new UK anthem would be problematic though as I am not aware of
any song that celebrates the whole of the UK.
(Land of Hope & Glory is too English)