MUSIC is powerful, for it can beguile, annoy or inspire. One sentiment it readily inspires is patriotism—pride and love for one’s country. Thus, the world has followed Britain in adopting national anthems —a musical coat of arms, trademark or aural flag—for use on state occasions, sporting competition or in war. God Save the King will be the musical cynosure of Charles III’s coronation.
Such anthems were rare outside England when, in April 1792, Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, 31, a French army captain, heard the mayor of Strasbourg lament the lack of a good revolutionary song. De Lisle, a man of action, overnight wrote words and music for a ‘’ for the army of the Rhine. An instant success (which saved him from the guillotine), it was christened when adopted by Provençal irregulars marching to storm the Tuileries. It is a ferocious call to war. ‘… let the impure blood of our enemies water the furrows of our land.’ Although not perhaps what might be expected from a country
