Readers reply: Why are national anthems almost always orchestral?

Why are national anthems almost always orchestral? When – and by whom – was it decided that brass and strings best represent a country’s identity? Where are the power-pop or folk varieties? Ross Gomes, by email

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Readers reply

Longstanding national anthems were mostly written before recorded and amplified music existed. They were often played outdoors, or in large halls. Those requirements are practically demanding large assemblies of portable instruments to play them. If it couldn’t be played by a military band, heavily staffed with brass players, a national anthem would not have lasted long. leadballoon

Anthems typically pre-date the electronic and digital eras, which meant playing them on traditional woodwind, stringed and drummed instruments. Most of them also have words, so they can be sung by the faithful and the callow. Consequently, most national anthems sound awful to modern ears, quite aside from questions over suitability in an internationalist, secular and increasingly postcolonial world.

If you’re in the mood, though, Niger’s L’Honneur de la Patrie (2023) would not be entirely out of place as the theme tune of a grand movie sci-fi. Meanwhile, Syria’s still-unofficial Fī Sabīli al-Majd (2024) is perky and evokes the feeling of a whimsical late-1800s western caper movie; they should definitely use that in place of Ḥumāt ad-Diyār, in my opinion. Dorkalicious

Just the weight of convention. Monkey see, monkey do. unclestinky

Rather than orchestral, they are usually harmonically choral, with the four parts for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Melodically, Britain’s own is deliberately as simple as it can get, for the untrained masses to join in in unison. The simple monosyllabic words God Save the King are biblical, from the King James version. The first modern one is La Marseillaise, dating from the French Revolution. Keith Barnes

More to the point, why are some of them so dire? There’s no comparison between God Save the King and La Marseillaise; one’s a dirge, the other makes me want to march to the barricades. Goldgreen

Even if they’re originally written for strings or brass, it doesn’t mean that they’re limited to performances by those instruments. Jimi Hendrix’s version of The Star Spangled Banner, for instance, was a better representation of the US at the time than any orchestral recital (and perhaps would be even more so now). superspartan

They’re no more orchestral than, say, Greensleeves, the Londonderry Air or Abide With Me. Many have military origins, which suits mobile groups with acoustic brass, pipes and drums. Others have origins in folk song, court dances and religious hymns (most European languages use a version of the word “hymn”, meaning song of praise, for anthem). The American anthem was a drinking song, the Chinese one a film theme. alexito

Flower of Scotland was written in the 1960s and narrowly failed to become the Scottish anthem in a vote of Holyrood. It’s usually performed by a pipe band, or by a large ensemble choir of football fans. Not sure I ever heard an orchestral version. Randomusername222

Billy Connolly suggested the Archers theme tune would make a great national anthem. Now, that’s what I hear in my head whenever the UK’s dirge is played. After all, a national anthem is basically a country’s theme tune. So for me, the lyrics to Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? are perfect.

Not only is our national anthem an awful dirge, it fails to even mention the country, its features, its people (unless you include hammering the Scots). It just drones on about the current super-rich welfare claimant with poorly diversified genes. walpole6