Bbc Last Night Of The Proms

[10ClarionSt]

Having watched this again, it's definitely a white middle England thing isn't it? I could only see two non-white faces and both of them were in the choir. Where are all the "England-loving" immigrants to join in with our great tradition of showing our nationalism? It'll get banned soon for being a white, jingoistic and inappropriate event in these days of muti-culturalism. Watch this space. :o)

[WSpa]

Does everybody enjoy the singing of 'Land of Hope and Glory' and 'Rule Britannia' or do you feel embarrassed by the jingoism?

[dave50]

Why should anyone be embarrassed?

[rowanwitch]

It's something you get caught up in when you are there. The atmosphere is amazing and the old patriotics are sung because it's a last night tradition, everyone knows the words and they are easy to sing the politics isn't really an issue for most promenaders. Plenty of other music during the entire prom series. This years programme

https://www.classical-music.com/bbc-proms/bbc-proms-2023-schedule/

[maggiebee]

//a white middle England thing// Think you'll find there are a few Scots, Welsh and Irish people "of colour" who enjoy it too.

[roopower]

So you didnt see the young male cellist? If you don't like it, don't watch it!

[Khandro]

Wspa, My dictionary defines jingoism as; Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy;

How does that apply to the love of one's country.
Do you Hate Britain ? are you British ?

[choux]

Dear Marin Alsop - who pinched half the Scrabble tiles? She reminds me of Susan/Eddie Izzard but I do like her.

What I did notice was the number of EU flags, both in the galleries and with the Promenaders. They were in the majority! A few berets around and 2 Tricolores.

However, I always have and always will consider this great event of The Last Night of the Proms to be quintessentially English!

[WSpa]

//Wspa, My dictionary defines jingoism as; Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy;

//How does that apply to the love of one's country.
Do you Hate Britain ? are you British ?//

I am British and I certainly do not hate Britain.

If you read the lyrics of those two songs and do not find them jingoistic we shall just have to differ about the meaning of the word.

[bednobs]

You can't have been watching very hard (twice)

[bednobs]

They even had an interview with the cellist

[douglas9401]

Another lazily lobbed H bomb.
Well played.

[Khandro]

WSpa; Prior to the formation of the Royal Navy in the 17th century, the smaller coastal towns & villages of England were subject to raiding, and adults and many children were taken by North African corsairs to be sold into slavery; many from Devon & Cornwall (southern Ireland as well).

The organised navy was able to put a stop to it, and that is why "Britons never, never shall be slaves".

No 'jingoism' there at all, it was a fact.

[andres]

One of my ancestors was kidnapped and taken back to Morocco. He was kept there for years . Many white Europeans were captured back then

[Khandro]

andres; As it seems every black person in the West feels they need compensation for their ancestors being taken as slaves, perhaps you could claim some recompense from the Turks. :0)

[WSpa]

Khandro
Rule, Britannia!’ was composed by Thomas Arne as part of the sung stage work Alfred, which premiered on 1 August 1740 at Cliveden House, home to Frederick, the then Prince of Wales.

The music was written to celebrate the ascension of his grandfather, King George I, and the birth of his daughter, Princess Augusta.

The plot of Alfred revolved around Alfred the Great, a King who reigned over the Saxons during the years 871 - 899.

Set in 871, the masque tells of the story of how Alfred took shelter on the Isle of Athelney, a village in Somerset, following a defeat from the Vikings.

Towards the end of the masque, Alfred leaves to fight again, and is this time victorious. It is ‘Rule, Britannia!’ which is played to illustrate his win, with Alfred saying “Britons, proceed, the subject deep command, awe with your navies ev'ry hostile land”. In response, the chorus sings ‘Rule, Britannia!’.

Nothing to do with pirate raids, so your 'facts' are nonsense.

[Khandro]

//The plot of Alfred revolved around Alfred the Great, a King who reigned over the Saxons during the years 871 - 899.77

Yes, a long time before the formation of the Royal Navy & Britons most certainly didn't 'rule the waves' at that time and were being taken into slavery.
In fact there wasn't any cohesive navy at all in the 9th century.

[WSpa]

Khandro

You have mentioned the Royal Navy twice - the song has nothing to do with the RN but a victory over the Vikings in which defeat would have meant being taken into slavery.
I consider the words are jingoistic in the modern world and you don't so please can we leave it at that.

I also consider the words of 'Land of Hope and Glory' are in the same vein but I'm sure you disagree and again it's pointless discussing it further.

[Khandro]

WSpa; Cutting & pasting in a page from Wikipedia does not make you an authority on the history of the British Isles, nor does it offer the 'real' sentiments behind the meaning of a song.

[WSpa]

Khandro

I would be very grateful if you would kindly explain the ‘real’ sentiments of the songs. Which one would you like start with?

[Khandro]

WSpa //Khandro
I would be very grateful if you would kindly explain the ‘real’ sentiments of the songs. Which one would you like start with?//

I can't, and neither can you! You can't even explain the outlook/ world view (Weltanschauung) of your grandparents, let alone that of an Englishman in the first part of the 18th century writing about HIS view of events which happened centuries earlier.

But, unfortunately like many other of the historically challenged & misinformed, your are prepared to use present day mores to judge them & describe their sentiments as being 'jingoistic'.

In 1740, Britain actually DID 'rule the waves' & had complete & absolute control of all the oceans of the world.


Fact !