I have become intrigued by the musical devices employed in such a simple piece of music as Thomas Arne's closing chorus to Alfred "When Britain first at heaven's command"; My latest fascination has been with the Bassoon line as that's my primary area of study right now.
That particular part is so lovely but the question arose in my mind. How did this piece become the quintessential patriotic song.
But my question for wider consideration is in the area of prior scholarship on this point. Surely there is a 19th century clergyman who studied the rhetorical devices (and there are many - try the 3 sixteenth note syncopated flutterings throughout). How do these devices so clearly define the "us" group which triumphs over the "them" group (to put it in simple terms)?
I cannot answer your technical question about the bassoon, but insofar as Arne's music becoming more popular, I think that was consequent upon a tiredness of Italian music and the related theatrical changes e.g. as portrayed in Hogarth's The Enraged Musician. I recently added a new analysis of that print to my website at http://tobiassmollett.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/william-hogarth-and-enraged-musician.html which discusses Arne and the London theatre, and it may be of interest?
http://tobiassmollett.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/william-hogarth-and-enraged-musician.html
Hello Don,
Thanks for your interest. Sorry about the bassoon distraction; this particular enquiry is about musical rhetoric as a persuasive force.
The original question perhaps can be better stated:
Is there a study by an English polymath involving the detailed analysis of the rhetorical devices in Arne's "When Britain first at heaven's Command"
In short I'm looking for useful source material (someone who has done the hard part already - dreamer) and in this instance that would be its most likely origination.
Karl
(I'm starting to understand why everyone uses "Rule Britannia"; its so much shorter).
Wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule,_Britannia! ) doesn't mention the bassooon; so, how about looking on youtube and contacting the group/player that you are most engaged by?
Diana Ambache