The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #165906 Message #3985259
Posted By: Helen
31-Mar-19 - 02:10 PM
Thread Name: Australian national anthem
Subject: RE: Australian national anthem
Ok, here is the sheet music in G Major for Advance Australia Fair. I suggest having a go at singing it.
GSTQ, by comparison in G Major ranges from G above middle C up to high F sharp. That's a range of only 7 notes compared with 11 notes on AAF,
Apart from it sounding like a dirge and making everyone want to go off in the corner to have a good long cry, and apart from being Anglo-centric and even apart from the dreaded "girt", it has a range from middle C up to high F. If it is sung in a different key then it would possibly be even more difficult.
Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We've golden soil and wealth for toil, Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in Nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair! In joyful strains then let us sing, "Advance Australia fair!"
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd, To trace wide oceans o'er, True British courage bore him on, Till he landed on our shore. Then here he raised Old England's flag, The standard of the brave; With all her faults we love her still, "Brittannia rules the wave!" In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"
Beneath our radiant southern Cross, We'll toil with hearts and hands; To make this Commonwealth of ours Renowned of all the lands; For those who've come across the seas We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine To advance Australia fair. In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"
While other nations of the globe Behold us from afar, We'll rise to high renown and shine Like our glorious southern star; From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle, Who come our lot to share, Let all combine with heart and hand To advance Australia fair! In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"
Should foreign foe e'er sight our coast, Or dare a foot to land, We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore To guard our native strand; Britannia then shall surely know, Beyond wide ocean's roll, Her sons in fair Australia's land Still keep a British soul. In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"
Have a Captain Cook at the second verse. How to upset our first people in one verse. It is a white British person's anthem. It does not represent all Australians and it insults the first people of Australia who were invaded by the British, and murdered or hounded for their land.
Even without verses two,four and five, the sentiment is offensive to a huge percentage of the people currently living in Australia because that percentage are not from British origins.