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From: mcq@druxt.UUCP (McQueer)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Anthems
Message-ID: <861@druxt.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Jan-84 11:31:50 EST
Article-I.D.: druxt.861
Posted: Tue Jan  3 11:31:50 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Jan-84 21:26:05 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 29

More on the subject of anthems:

I seem to remember one of those "comparison of national anthem" programs
myself.  The aggresiveness of a national anthem might not be terribly
indicative - one of the most peaceful, serene, non-violent national
anthems was supposedly Japan's - the one they were using at the time of WWII.
One of the bloodthirstiest was supposedly Bulgaria's.  What did Bulgaria
ever do to anybody, at least in recent history?

The Star Spangled Banner has its problems, and I agree that America the
Beautiful would probably be better.  That tune does span a range of an
octave plus a fifth on top of it, I think (no instrument handy to check
it out with - don't toast me if I'm wrong, point is the range is God-awful).
One thing I heard about the tune someone chose to set F. Scott Key's poem to
was that it was an old English drinking song - imagine a bunch of drunks
trying to carry that thing.  I'd like to find out the words to that drinking
song sometime also.

I don't think Oh Canada is terribly easy to sing either - it's got some
funny intervals.  I remember my parents commenting on the crowd singing
both national anthems at the some public affair (Toronto Expo?) when I
was a kid - they mangled both.  This is probably something that should
be considered in a national anthem, and God Save the Queen is good in
this regard.  America the Beautiful is also an easy tune.

			Oh well, enough!!

			Bob McQueer
			ihnp4!druxt!mcq