The Last Night of the Proms 2005

I've just finished watching The Last Night of the Proms - I love this fabulously British tradition. It's a glorious evening of fantastic music irreverently enjoyed with unashamed patriotism; complete with air horns during Fantasia on British Sea Songs, whistling through Thine by the Glory and, of course, singing as loudly as possible to anything with lyrics!

To hell with political correctness ...

Jerusalem by William Blake

Bring me my Bow of burning gold!
Bring me my Arrows of desire!
Bring me my Spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!


Rule Britannia by James Thomson

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coasts repair.
Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.

Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.


Land of Hope and Glory by Benson and Elgar

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still, and wider, shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet!

These wonderful lyrics can't fail to stir the heart.

That said, Paul Daniel made some very poignant comments about music being without borders praising all the musicians and singers from around that world that had performed during the Prom season, especially in light of the fact that the season started only one week after the London bombings.

Here's hoping that we can continue to enjoy this piece of British culture for many years to come.

Happy Journeys.