Music notes #8
Sep. 29th, 2014 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grand_finaleGod Save the Queen 
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
When the King Enjoys His Own Again
Rule Britannia
A series of icons of the same action, so I decided they needed a theme. And that theme became "British songs about royalty."
"God Save the Queen," is the only national anthem used as a keyword. Its tune is one of the most well-known of the world anthems, if perhaps not the words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk
"The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba," isn't a song, it's a very well known instrumental piece from an opera. It sort of breaks the theme with the other songs, but it has such a majestic quality I had to use it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C66XCqWkhmw
"When the King Enjoys His Own Again," is a song in support of the loyalist (that is, pro-Monarchy) side of the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament in the English Civil War in the mid 17th century. Later it was co-opted as a pro-Jacobite (a faction that preferred the Catholic James II as King of England rather than the Protestant William III) song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN55RceP41c
"Rule Britannia," isn't technically about monarchy, but Britain's navy, and definitely the most military of these. It originated as a poem in the 18th century, but was later set to music. It is most associated with the Victorian Age, when the British Empire was the undisputed world power. During this time the lyrics were changed from: "Britannia, rule the waves!" to "Britannia rules the waves!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XPHL4Q86t4
The God Save the Queen and Rule Britannia videos have the lyrics, so I'll only include the lyrics for When the King Enjoys His Own Again here. (Maybe I'll add them later for annotation purposes.)
When the King Enjoys His Own Again
What Booker doth prognosticate
[This is a reference to astrologers who had predicted the death of the King, and possibly the Papalcy, of which there were a few.]
Concerning kings' or kingdoms' fate?
I think myself to be as wise
As he that gazeth on the skies;
My skill goes beyond the depth of a pond,
Or rivers in the greatest rain,
Thereby I can tell all things will be well
When the King enjoys his own again.
There's no astrologer than say I,
Can search more deep in this than I,
To give you a reason from the stars
What causeth peace or civil wars;
[A reference to the English Civil War which broke out between Charles I and the English Parliament, which eventually ended with Charles I's execution, dissolution of the Monarchy, and the establishment of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of England.]
The Man in the Moon may wear out his shoon
[Reference to another astrologer who apparently went by that name. "Shoon," also being an old word for "shoe."]
By running after Charles his wain:
[Charles I, of England, Scotland, and Ireland.]
But all's to no end, for the times will not mend
Till the King enjoys his own again.
Though for a time we see Whitehall
["Whitehall" refers to the government's center in London, to this day.]
With cobwebs hanging on the wall
Instead of silk and silver brave,
Which formerly it used to have,
With rich perfume in every room,
Delightful to that princely train,
Which again you shall see, when the time it shall be,
That the King enjoys his own again.
Till then upon Ararat's hill
[Almost positive this is a biblical reference: "Mountains of Ararat" being where Noah's Ark found solid ground again after the great flood. In other words, a really dramatic way of saying the "chaos" of disposing the King hasn't ended and he's waiting for the sinners who did it to be swept away.]
My hope shall cast her anchor still,
Until I see some peaceful dove
Bring home the branch I dearly love;
[A "dove carrying an olive branch," is a timeless symbol of victory and peace restored.]
Then will I wait till the waters abate
Which now disturb my troubled brain,
For I'll never rejoice till I hear that voice
That the King enjoys his own again.
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
When the King Enjoys His Own Again
Rule Britannia
A series of icons of the same action, so I decided they needed a theme. And that theme became "British songs about royalty."
"God Save the Queen," is the only national anthem used as a keyword. Its tune is one of the most well-known of the world anthems, if perhaps not the words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk
"The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba," isn't a song, it's a very well known instrumental piece from an opera. It sort of breaks the theme with the other songs, but it has such a majestic quality I had to use it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C66XCqWkhmw
"When the King Enjoys His Own Again," is a song in support of the loyalist (that is, pro-Monarchy) side of the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament in the English Civil War in the mid 17th century. Later it was co-opted as a pro-Jacobite (a faction that preferred the Catholic James II as King of England rather than the Protestant William III) song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN55RceP41c
"Rule Britannia," isn't technically about monarchy, but Britain's navy, and definitely the most military of these. It originated as a poem in the 18th century, but was later set to music. It is most associated with the Victorian Age, when the British Empire was the undisputed world power. During this time the lyrics were changed from: "Britannia, rule the waves!" to "Britannia rules the waves!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XPHL4Q86t4
The God Save the Queen and Rule Britannia videos have the lyrics, so I'll only include the lyrics for When the King Enjoys His Own Again here. (Maybe I'll add them later for annotation purposes.)
When the King Enjoys His Own Again
What Booker doth prognosticate
[This is a reference to astrologers who had predicted the death of the King, and possibly the Papalcy, of which there were a few.]
Concerning kings' or kingdoms' fate?
I think myself to be as wise
As he that gazeth on the skies;
My skill goes beyond the depth of a pond,
Or rivers in the greatest rain,
Thereby I can tell all things will be well
When the King enjoys his own again.
There's no astrologer than say I,
Can search more deep in this than I,
To give you a reason from the stars
What causeth peace or civil wars;
[A reference to the English Civil War which broke out between Charles I and the English Parliament, which eventually ended with Charles I's execution, dissolution of the Monarchy, and the establishment of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of England.]
The Man in the Moon may wear out his shoon
[Reference to another astrologer who apparently went by that name. "Shoon," also being an old word for "shoe."]
By running after Charles his wain:
[Charles I, of England, Scotland, and Ireland.]
But all's to no end, for the times will not mend
Till the King enjoys his own again.
Though for a time we see Whitehall
["Whitehall" refers to the government's center in London, to this day.]
With cobwebs hanging on the wall
Instead of silk and silver brave,
Which formerly it used to have,
With rich perfume in every room,
Delightful to that princely train,
Which again you shall see, when the time it shall be,
That the King enjoys his own again.
Till then upon Ararat's hill
[Almost positive this is a biblical reference: "Mountains of Ararat" being where Noah's Ark found solid ground again after the great flood. In other words, a really dramatic way of saying the "chaos" of disposing the King hasn't ended and he's waiting for the sinners who did it to be swept away.]
My hope shall cast her anchor still,
Until I see some peaceful dove
Bring home the branch I dearly love;
[A "dove carrying an olive branch," is a timeless symbol of victory and peace restored.]
Then will I wait till the waters abate
Which now disturb my troubled brain,
For I'll never rejoice till I hear that voice
That the King enjoys his own again.
