The British Grenadiers

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British Grenadiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Printed by Percy Moran , Source: Library of Congress
British Grenadiers , string orchestra of the United States Army Band.

The British Grenadiers was a marching song by British grenadiers from the 17th to the 19th century , and is now one of the most famous English military marches. The march belongs like the songs Land of Hope and Glory , Rule, Britannia! and Jerusalem to the patriotic songs of England. The song is also popular in England as a morris dance ( polka ). During the American Revolutionary War , the Free America text melody was a common American patriotic song.

As a quick march, it is the regimental march of both the Grenadier Guards , one of the five Foot Guards Regiments (elite infantry ) of the Royal Household Division , and the Honorable Artillery Company , the oldest still existing regiment in the British Army . Also, The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery , The Canadian Grenadier Guards , The Royal Regiment of Canada , The Princess Louise Fusiliers , and The 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles are authorized to play the march.

history

origin

The origin of the melody is unknown, it may date from the Elizabethan era in the late 16th century. The subject appears in 1651 in the Prince Ruperts March / The Clear Cavalier (Cavaliers, later Tories , called the royal third in Parliament under King Charles I ), listed in the dance book and reference work The English Dancing Master by John Playford . A very similar work was published in 1622 in the Bellerophon (Amsterdam) under the title Sir Edward Noel's Delight .

The text dates from the time the First Guards were founded in 1678 at the earliest and from the reign of Queen Anne (1665–1714) at the latest , when grenadiers stopped carrying hand grenades. In America, the march is documented in a manuscript by William William from 1775, printed in Pautuxit / Pawtucket (Rhode Island).

American War of Independence

With the American Revolution are in James Fuld music scholarship work Book of World-Famous Music brought only three tunes in combination, the British The British Grenadiers , God Save the King and the song Yankee Doodle unknown origin. Although all kinds of music flourished in the American colonies, the most common creative way of revolutionary Americans to respond to war was not to compose their own pieces but to compose verses to familiar melodies. The form of the parody played a large role in song lyrics of this revolutionary era. Well-known British patriotic melodies were given texts that turned their original meaning into the opposite.

As early as February 1770, before the independence movement became popular, a text with seven stanzas and the title Free America , originally (The New Massachusetts) Liberty Song , also A Song on Liberty , by Joseph Warren appeared . The comparison with past cultures caused the American colonists to differentiate their American identity from British identity. Even the original text alludes ironically to the great deeds of ancient heroes such as Hercules or Alexander and delimits their own British identity. In the text of the Liberty song it says Proud Albion bow'd to Caesar, And numerous lords before ( Proud Albion knelt before Caesar, and many other gentlemen ). The text warns Americans not to bow to tyrants and end up like the ancient Greeks and Romans. The song is not to be confused with The Liberty Song (John Dickinson, 1768).

At the beginning of the American War of Independence (1775–1783) was the twelve-stanza War and Washington (also General Washington ), composed in May 1775 by Jonathan Mitchell Sewall (1748–1808) to the melody The British Grenadiers , the first war song of the North American colonies to be spread like wildfire. The original song celebrated those British elite units that provoked the fighting in Lexington and Concord in April a month before the song was released . Deliberately ironically praising General Washington with this tune increased the audacious patriotic effect. The song could be no doubt at each bonfire of the Continental Army ( " at every Continental camp-fire to be heard") and was the one that the led gallant soldiers into battle and let him return triumphantly into eternal verses from the victorious battle. (" Led the gallant soldier on to battle, and returned him from the field of victory triumphant in deathless verse. ") The text is listed in Henry Brown's Property and Thompson's Pocket Collection of Favorite Marches (1789, esp. 1790 ) after winning the War of Independence ) titled Vain Britons, Boast No Longer ( Vain Brits, No Longer Bragging ), an expression of American pride.

In 1777 the march was played by the Red Coats (British Army) during the Battle of Brandywine in the American Revolutionary War.

After the American victory over the British General Charles Cornwallis in 1781, the American War of Independence was effectively over. Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the former British colonies in the Peace of Paris (1783). In the aftermath of the battle, the verses of Lord Cornwallis' Surrender were written to the melody of the song.

Grenadier Guards march from Buckingham Palace to St James's Palace

Grenadier Guards

The British Grenadiers and The Grenadiers March were the marches of the grenadiers of all British companies. After the Grenadier Guards, founded as First Guards , defeated the grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, they were given the name The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards . As a regimental march, they then accepted The British Grenadiers . The right flank of the infantry battalions consisted of the companies of the grenadiers.

In the UK, the parade march rings out at the annual Trooping the Color , the Queen's birthday parade . After the inspection of the troops by the Queen, the No.1 Guard , the so-called Escort for the Color (regardless of which regiment), traditionally to the sound of the fast march of The British Grenadiers , marches forward from the right flank to take over the flag . When the infantry later marches past the Queen, first at a slow, then at a fast pace, the marches Scipio (Handel) and The British Grenadiers are played for the Grenadier Guards , depending on the composition of the guards .

text

original

Some talk of Alexander , and some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander , and such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes, there's none that can compare.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers.

Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,
or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal.
But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusees , and we with hand grenades.
We throw them from the glacis , about the enemies' ears.
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.

And when the victory is over, we to the town repair.
The townsmen cry, "Hurray, boys, here comes a Grenadier!"
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears!
Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.

Then let us fill a bumper , and drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loupèd clothes.
May they and their commanders live happy all their years.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Verbatim translation

One speaks of Alexander, and also of Hercules
Von Hector and Lysander, and other great names.
But of all heroes in the world, none can compete
with a tow, row, row, row, row, row, with the British Grenadiers.

Those ancient heroes never saw a cannonball,
or knew the power of powder to kill their enemies.
But our brave boys know it, and overcome their fears,
Sings tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Whenever we receive orders to storm the palisades,
our leaders march with muskets and we with hand grenades,
We throw them from the glacis around the enemies' ears.
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.

And when the siege is over, we'll move into town.
The citizens shout, “Hurray, boys, here comes a grenadier!”
Here come the grenadiers, boys who know neither hesitation nor fear!
Now tow, row, row, row, row, row, sing the British Grenadiers.

Let us fill a tankard and drink to the health of those who
carry hats and bags and wear clothes with braids.
May you and your commanders live happily ever after.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

War and Washington (Jonathan Mitchell Sewall, USA 1776?)

Vain Britons, boast no longer with proud indignity
Of all your conquering legions, or of your strength at sea,
As we, your braver sons, incensed, our arms have girded on;
Huzza! huzza! huzza! huzza! for war and Washington.

Urg'd on by North and Vengeance, These valiant Champions came,
Loud bellowing TEA, and TREASON, And GEORGE was all on Flame!
Yet sacrilegious as it seems We REBELS, still live on
And laugh at all your empty Puffs, And so does WASHINGTON!

...

Free America (Joseph Warren, USA 1770s)

That Seat of Science Athens, and Earth's great Mistress Rome,
Where now are all their Glories, we scarce can find their Tomb;
Then guard your Rights, Americans! nor stoop to lawless Sway,
Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose, - my brave America.

Proud Albion bow'd to Caesar, and num'rous Lords before,
To Picts , to Danes , to Normans , and many Masters more;
But we can boast Americans! we never fell a prey;
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, for brave America.

...

Further use of the melody

military

  • Around 1759 a political version of the text was published with the title Expedition an ODE, To the Tune of the British Grenadiers. Printed for W. Taylor, facing the Opera-House, in the Haymarket, London , which denounced strategic errors that had led to the fact that on September 11, 1758, a rearguard consisting mainly of British grenadiers was wiped out on the beach at Saint-Cast .
  • In 1776, to celebrate the United States ' Declaration of Independence , a “new favorite song at the american camp” was written that turned everything British upside down (“Your dark unfathom'd Councils, our weakest hands defeat”).
  • After the Battle of Queenston Heights (Canada) in the British-American War of 1812, the text The Battle of Queenston Heights was written in honor of the British General Isaac Brock .
  • The British Bayoneteers was also written in the war of 1812 .
  • During Operation Market Garden in World War II, some soldiers from the British 1st Airborne Division are said to have played the song using a flute and helmets as drums.
  • The melody is to the text The Melbourne Volunteers Regimental March of the Melbourne Volunteer Rifle Regiment .
  • The regimental march of the (Royal) Hanover Guards Grenadier Regiment (Prussian Army March Collection AM II, 52) consists of an arrangement by The British Grenadiers and another melody.
The Girton Pioneers , Girton College Songs, AE Tuthill, 1876–84

Artistic reception

  • The song appears as the main theme in the finale of Ignaz Moscheles' fourth piano concerto .
  • In Basel, the melody is known as the first verse of the Arabi carnival march .
  • In the 4-minute orchestral work Putnam's Camp by Charles Ives as well as his works Overture and March '1776' and 'Country Band' March , the melody plays a key role.
  • The pioneer of electronic music Max Mathews (1926–2011) transformed the march in 1966 into the American march When Johnny Comes Marching Home in a process of analysis and interpolation .
  • Edward Lysaght (1763-1811), an Irish poet and supporter of the Irish Volunteers, dedicated the ballad The Man Who Led the Van of the Irish Volunteers to the Irish politician Henry Grattan . In keeping with his mischievous humor, he used the English melody The British Grenadiers .
  • In 1871, students at Girton College at Cambridge University composed the text The Girton Pioneers to the melody of the song . They honored the first three women to pass the university's own Tripos exams.
  • Harold Baum, professor of biochemistry at Chelsea College in London, composed the text In Praise of EMP , a sung description of glycolysis , to the melody of the song for his student council's annual Christmas party . A selection of the songs, with a foreword by Hans Adolf Krebs , was published by Pergamon Press in 1982.

literature

  • WP Rivers: The British Grenadiers . In: Musical Times . Volume 73, No. 1075, September 1, 1932, pp. 837-838.
  • Ernest Walker: History of Music in England . Oxford University Press, H. Milford, London 1924.
  • Arthur M. Schlesinger : A Note on Songs as Patriot Propaganda 1765-1776 . In: The William and Mary Quarterly . Third Series. Volume 11, No. 1, January 1954, pp. 78-88.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Die Spielleut.de ao 01 Martina's Fancy (The British Grenadiers) as Morris dance, mp3PRO
  2. ^ Prince Ruperts March. , Facsimile of John Playford's 1651 The English Dancing Master.
  3. ^ GJ Miller: Grenadier Music. In: Tempo (New Ser.), No. 40, 1956, pp. 26 + 29-33.
  4. ↑ The Fiddler's Companion including BRITISH GRENADIERS, THE.
  5. ↑ a b Richard Crawford: Music of the American Revolution: The Birth of Liberty ( Memento of the original from October 22, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 494 kB), New World Records 80276.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.newworldrecords.org
  6. ^ The new Massachusetts liberty song To the tune of the British grenadier. April 1770 , American Memory
  7. ↑ Colonial and Revolution Songs , Song Samples (MP3 format), including Free America mp3 (explanations, as well as 6th and 4th verse)
  8. ↑ New song. To the tune of the British Grenadiers  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ; Gene. Washington, a new favorite song, at the American Camp , American Memory@1@ 2Template: dead link / memory.loc.gov  
  9. ↑ Gen. Washington,: a new favorite song, at the American camp. To the tune of the British grenadiers. ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , New York Historical Society, American Revolution, Digital Learning Project. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / independence.nyhistory.org
  10. ^ Richard C. Spicer: Music and the Revolution. In: Americans at War: Society, Culture, and the Homefront, Macmillan Reference 2004, ISBN 0-02-865806-X , p. 128.
  11. ^ Richard C. Spicer: Popular Song for Public Celebration in Federal Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Popular Song and Society 25, nos. 1-2 (spring / summer 2001), pp. 1-99, 20-22.
  12. ^ Christopher Ward, The War of the Revolution, 2 vols., The Macmillan Company, New York 1952.
  13. ↑ John Anthony Scott (Ed.): Ballad of America. Grosset & Dunlap, Bk (1967), pp. 88-90.
  14. ↑ Lord Cornwallis's Surrender , six stanzas; America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets , including Lord Cornwallis's surrender.
  15. ↑ Regimental Marches ( Memento of the original of September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , East Kent Branch, Grenadier Guards Association.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ekb.org.uk
  16. ↑ Vain Britons, boast no longer with proud Indignity , twelve stanzas.
  17. ^ Free America , seven stanzas.
  18. ^ David Waldstreicher: Rites of Rebellion, Rites of Assent: Celebrations, Print Culture, and the Origins of American Nationalism. In: The Journal of American History. Vol. 82, No. 1 (Jun. 1995), pp. 37-61.
  19. ↑ The British Character of Canada ( Memento of the original from October 12, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , four stanzas.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.monarchist.ca
  20. ↑ The British Bayoneteers , three stanzas.
  21. ↑ Cornelius Ryan: A Bridge Too Far. Simon and Schuster, New York 1974, ISBN 0-671-21792-5 .
  22. ^ The Melbourne Volunteers
  23. ↑ CD marches of the Kgr. Hannover, Army Music Corps I, Lieutenant Colonel Eberhard v. Freymann, 1987 Leuenhagen & Paris, Hanover.
  24. ↑ Arabi ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , fasnachtsmaersch.ch. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.fasnachtsmaersch.ch
  25. ↑ Denise Von Glahn Cooney: A Sense of Place: Charles Ives and "Putnam's Camp, Redding, Connecticut". In: American Music. Vol. 14, No. 3, 1996, pp. 276-312.
  26. ↑ The Algorithmic Revolution. On the history of interactive art ; Loren Means: An Interview with Max Methews , YLEM JOURNAL - Spring 2005, p. 23, PDF
  27. ↑ MV Mathews; L. Rosler: Graphical Language for the Scores of Computer-Generated Sounds. In: Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1968, pp. 92-118.
  28. ^ Edward Lysaght: The Man, Who Led the Van of Irish Volunteers. In: Poems, by the Late Edward Lysaght Esq., Barrister at Law, Gilbert and Hodges, Dublin 1811, pp. 87-89.
  29. ^ To Henry Grattan: The Man Who Led the Van of Irish Volunteers. , six stanzas.
  30. ↑ The Girton Pioneers ( Memento of the original from April 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Girton College. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.girton.cam.ac.uk
  31. ^ The Biochemists' Songbook MP3 Files , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Long Beach.
  32. ↑ In Praise of Glycolysis ( Memento of the original dated November 13, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Text, MITES biology wiki.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / mitesbio.mit.edu
  33. ↑ Sir Hans Krebs (foreword), H. Baum (author): The Biochemists' Song Book (paperback). Pergamon Press, 1982, ISBN 0-08-027370-X . (Taylor & Francis, 1995, ISBN 0-7484-0416-3 )

Web links

Music files