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Victorious adaptations
I enjoyed Andrew Green’s investigation of the origin and rise of our National Anthem (June issue). While I admire Beethoven’s Seven Variations on ‘God Save the King’ which he mentions, in my view a far better and more dramatic use of it is in the second part of his battle symphony, Wellington’s Victory (or the Battle of Vitoria) Op. 91. This theatrical orchestral showpiece predates Tchaikovsky’s ubiquitous 1812 Overture, but like it celebrates the defeat of Napoleonic forces with cannon and musket effects. It starts with two marching bands: one English, playing part of Rule Britannia; the other French, bizarrely to our ears playing a rendition of what in England is the tune to ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’. The second part is a Victory Symphony featuring variations on ‘God Save the King’, including a powerful fugal passage. It’s highly recommended for any musical pageant in tribute to the Platinum Jubilee!
Peter Nicholson,
Newmarket
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Unlikely allies
The adoption of the tune to ‘God Save the King’ by other nations [see Letter of the Month, left] had one rather amusing consequence. Just after the declaration of World War I, the Austrian composer and conductor Felix Weingartner wrote a patriotic overture in which the French and Russian anthems were satirised, while the Austrian and German anthems were grandly presented. Unfortunately, his choice for Germany was ‘God Save the King’ – seemingly he was unaware that this was the British National Anthem. As a result, one would get the impression that Britain and Austria were on the same side!
Roger Musson, Edinburgh
Tackling Harry
Your obituary on Harrison Birtwistle (June) recalls a meeting I had with him in 1952. While on holiday in Blackpool with my parents as a boy of 13, I went onto the beach to kick a ball about. I was soon engaged in conversation with this lad of 18 and we had an enjoyable game of football together. I asked this lad his name and what he did for a living. He replied ‘Harrison Birtwistle’ and that he was a composer. At the time this meant nothing to me but his name stuck in my mind. Of course, it was only a few years later that I
