In a recent readers' reply feature, The Guardian posed the question: why are national anthems almost always orchestral? Respondents offered a range of explanations, from historical practicality to sheer convention.
Practical Origins in a Pre-Electronic Era
One reader, leadballoon, noted that longstanding national anthems were mostly written before recorded and amplified music existed. They were often played outdoors or in large halls, which practically demanded large assemblies of portable instruments. If a tune could not be played by a military band heavily staffed with brass players, it would not have lasted long.
Another reader, Dorkalicious, added that most anthems pre-date the electronic and digital eras, meaning they were played on traditional woodwind, stringed, and drummed instruments. Most also have words, so they can be sung. Consequently, many sound awful to modern ears, aside from questions over suitability in an internationalist, secular, and increasingly postcolonial world.
Convention and Musical Structure
Unclestinky attributed the orchestral style simply to the weight of convention. Keith Barnes offered a more specific musical analysis, arguing that rather than being orchestral, anthems are usually harmonically choral, with four parts for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Britain's own anthem is deliberately as simple as possible for untrained masses to join in unison, with monosyllabic words from the King James Bible. The first modern anthem, La Marseillaise, dates from the French Revolution.
Goldgreen questioned the quality of some anthems, comparing God Save the King unfavourably to La Marseillaise, calling one a dirge and the other inspiring. Superspartan pointed out that even if anthems are written for strings or brass, they are not limited to those instruments, citing Jimi Hendrix's version of The Star Spangled Banner as a better representation of the US at the time than any orchestral recital.
Diverse Origins and Alternatives
Alexito noted that anthems are no more orchestral than Greensleeves or the Londonderry Air. Many have military origins, suiting mobile groups with acoustic brass, pipes, and drums, while others come from folk songs, court dances, and religious hymns. The American anthem was a drinking song, and the Chinese one a film theme.
Randomusername222 mentioned that Flower of Scotland, written in the 1960s, narrowly failed to become the Scottish anthem in a Holyrood vote and is usually performed by a pipe band or football fans. Walpole6 suggested Billy Connolly's idea of using the Archers theme tune, noting that a national anthem is basically a country's theme tune, and criticised the UK's anthem for failing to mention the country, its features, or its people.
