Featuring the Artistic Director of Pegasus Opera Company, Soprano Alison Buchanan teamed up with London-based rap artist Kharleone ( add his Insta here) to reimagine the classical anthem 'Rule Britannia' to reflect our modern and diverse Britain. Rule Britannia well-known as a stirring, patriotic song, often played at 'Proms' events which are traditional concerts where British classics are highlighted/ Recently, following BLM awareness and issues, it was pointed out how these lyrics presented an out-moded celebration of a colonial past, including slavery.
So in light of the recent Proms controversy, we made the above video.
Please watch our collab with Kharleone as an example of how you can creative something that expresses the issues as you see them.
The challenge
Written in 1740, “Rule, Britannia!” originates from James Thomson’s poem, “Rule, Britannia” and was set to music by Thomas Arne. But does the poem still reflect our society today? Is it still relevant? Is it still appropriate?
Singing Rule, Britannia is an integral part of the Proms tradition, but is it endorsing the legacies of colonialism – whether that be race, poverty, conflict, or Victorian anti-LGBTQ+ laws and homophobic attitudes.
Rather than scrapping Rule Britannia, we challenge you to reimagine rule britannia in a way that reflects our culturally diverse, modern Britain.
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Use any medium you wish from music to dance, art to poetry, anything you like to join our
#OverruleBritanniaChallenge
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It could be a fresh track with new lyrics, some beats, spoken word or solo guitar an vocals. Or a classical piece, or maybe some African or diverse instrumentation. Anything you make will be a contribution to OverRuleBritanniaChallenge!
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If you have any additional questions, please email admin@pegopera.org.
Deadline: 31st January 2020
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Lyrics
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
When Britain first, at heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And Guardian Angels sang this strain:
The nations not so blest as thee
Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish great and free:
The dread and envy of them all.
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke,
As the loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak.
Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame;
All their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy generous flame,
But work their woe and thy renown.
To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine;
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles, thine.
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