NPR

The UK culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, has intervened in the controversy over the suggestion that the traditional flag-waving anthems Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory might be axed from the Last Night of the Proms because of their perceived links to colonialism.

The minister said he shared concerns over the potential removal of the patriotic staples, which he described as “highlights”, and that he had raised them with the BBC.

“Confident forward-looking nations don’t erase their history, they add to it,” he declared in a tweet.

Dowden’s comments came after Downing Street also waded into the row with a spokesman saying that on similar issues Boris Johnson has been clear that “we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols”.

Their remarks follow reports that the BBC is discussing whether to drop the anthems in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, with organisers apparently fearing a backlash because they are said to be associated with colonialism and slavery.

Each year, audience members at the Royal Albert Hall in London wave flags while singing Rule Britannia, which includes the line: “Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.”

The Finn Dalia Stasevska, who is conducting this year’s Last Night of the Proms, is apparently among those keen to reduce the patriotic element of the evening’s repertoire. “Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change,” a BBC source told the Sunday Times.

With live shows from the Royal Albert Hall kicking off from Friday, reduced orchestra sizes, social distancing and no audiences will make the 2020 Proms a very different experience.

Chi-chi Nwanoku, the founder of the Chineke! orchestra, the majority of whose musicians are black, Asian and from ethnic minorities, has said she would be mortified if the BBC did not axe Rule Britannia. Last month, the classical music critic Richard Morrison singled out the anthems for criticism in a column for BBC Music Magazine, suggesting they were “crudely jingoistic texts”.

Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has been among those critical of the suggestion the anthems might be dropped, as well as the actor Laurence Fox.

A No 10 spokesman said on Monday: “This is a decision and a matter for the organisers of the Proms and the BBC. But the PM previously has set out his position on like issues and has been clear that while he understands the strong emotions involved in these discussions, we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols.”

The BBC has been contacted for a response to Dowden’s comments. The corporation previously said: “We are still finalising arrangements for the Last Night of the Proms so that we are able to respond to the latest advice in regards to Covid-19 and deliver the best offering possible for audiences.”

shereblue wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:28 am For max lolz and snowflake, gammon outrage, would love to see the gorgeous Finn and her Orchestra "take the knee"...

The Last Night of the Proms will feature the traditional flag-waving anthems Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory, the BBC confirmed on Monday night, but they will be performed as orchestral versions with no singing.

Following suggestions that the music might be axed because of perceived links to colonialism, the BBC said the songs would be played, but in an adapted form without a singer in line with new coronavirus restrictions.

Commenting on the move, the BBC’s media and arts correspondent, David Sillito, said: “The Last Night of the Proms will still have Jerusalem, the national anthem and new orchestral versions of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory. However, there will be no live audience in the Royal Albert Hall to sing along, and the number of musicians and singers will be reduced and dispersed around the hall because of social distancing.

“The music will, the BBC says, have to be adapted to reflect the new circumstances – which means there will be no singing of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory.”

He said the orchestra-only arrangement was how the tunes were first performed at the Proms in 1905, adding that it was understood that the songs would return with lyrics when the coronavirus restrictions came to an end.

New guy wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:26 am Cant wait until this ban everything fad pisses off. It's all so tiresome.

Gav wrote: Mon Aug 24, 2020 6:47 pm They're both shit tbf.

Akkerman wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 9:37 am a solution has been found apparently

The Last Night of the Proms will feature the traditional flag-waving anthems Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory, the BBC confirmed on Monday night, but they will be performed as orchestral versions with no singing.

Following suggestions that the music might be axed because of perceived links to colonialism, the BBC said the songs would be played, but in an adapted form without a singer in line with new coronavirus restrictions.

Commenting on the move, the BBC’s media and arts correspondent, David Sillito, said: “The Last Night of the Proms will still have Jerusalem, the national anthem and new orchestral versions of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory. However, there will be no live audience in the Royal Albert Hall to sing along, and the number of musicians and singers will be reduced and dispersed around the hall because of social distancing.

“The music will, the BBC says, have to be adapted to reflect the new circumstances – which means there will be no singing of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory.”

He said the orchestra-only arrangement was how the tunes were first performed at the Proms in 1905, adding that it was understood that the songs would return with lyrics when the coronavirus restrictions came to an end.

sockwithaticket wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:40 am I'm really not a patriotic person and the image of a bunch of middle aged and elderly Proms attendees enthusiastically singing along to something like Rule Britannia is actually pretty nauseating. I'd be overjoyed if we just let such musical relics fade into obscurity along with our dirge of a national anthem.

However, that should be a process of natural atrophy rather than active proscription

sockwithaticket wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:40 am I'm really not a patriotic person and the image of a bunch of middle aged and elderly Proms attendees enthusiastically singing along to something like Rule Britannia is actually pretty nauseating. I'd be overjoyed if we just let such musical relics fade into obscurity along with our dirge of a national anthem.

However, that should be a process of natural atrophy rather than active proscription

New guy wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:42 am "And now here comes Bryn Terfel for the traditional performance of Vossi Bop by Stormzy".

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 12:34 pm PM calls this BBC decision: "Wetness"

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Aug 27, 2020 7:48 am

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 12:34 pm PM calls this BBC decision: "Wetness"

Remarkable that he finds the time to comment on an entirely confected argument designed to stir up the culture war but goes missing whenever it's time to take responsibility for anything.

Hal Jordan wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 12:23 pm Randy Savage is turning in his grave!

Biffer wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:41 am So to be clear on this, so far as I understand, the BBC decided not to have a singalong to land of hope and glory, because there wouldn't be anyone to sing along.

Seems reasonable.

tabascoboy wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:55 am

Biffer wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:41 am So to be clear on this, so far as I understand, the BBC decided not to have a singalong to land of hope and glory, because there wouldn't be anyone to sing along.

Seems reasonable.

But, but, but OUTRAGE!!! most likely from people who never even bother to watch the last night

sturginho wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:03 pm

tabascoboy wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:55 am

Biffer wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:41 am So to be clear on this, so far as I understand, the BBC decided not to have a singalong to land of hope and glory, because there wouldn't be anyone to sing along.

Seems reasonable.

But, but, but OUTRAGE!!! most likely from people who never even bother to watch the last night

They decided not to have a singalong as most brexshitters don't know the words

Ellafan wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:43 pm I was up pub with a pommy mate tonight and asked him about this. His verdict:

"The amount of people who are remotely fucking interested in this crap is the 3000 or so that fit in the Albert hall, and the other 3000 wannabes that weren't posh enough to get a ticket. Cunts."

Hard to argue with that.

eldanielfire wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 9:23 pm

Ellafan wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:43 pm I was up pub with a pommy mate tonight and asked him about this. His verdict:

"The amount of people who are remotely fucking interested in this crap is the 3000 or so that fit in the Albert hall, and the other 3000 wannabes that weren't posh enough to get a ticket. Cunts."

Hard to argue with that.

Last Night of the Proms is open to everybody, you can't pre-buy tickets, you have to be willing to queue. Price are around football/rugby match prices or cheaper. There will also be the thousands in hyde park watching it together on a big screen and in other spots around the country. So it's pretty inclusive, just the perception of classical music is seen as posh. The Proms was actually designed so the masses could enjoy "serious music" as it was termed at it's inception.