Anthems: we all have 'em.
A national anthem is a song which is supposed to officially represent a nation. Likewise, a royal anthem represents a monarch or a dynasty. There's supposed to be both an aesthetic and a symbolic dimension to which music is chosen as the national anthem. Given that, what are some alternative pieces of music which could have been recognised as their countries' national anthems, had history gone down a different route? Or alternatively -- what would you propose as the anthems for countries (or provinces, cities, dynasties, etc) that never had one, either because they existed before such a concept (like the Roman Empire), because it wasn't part of their culture (like the Mughal Empire or the Zulu Kingdom), or because the countries themselves never actually existed (like the United Baltic Duchy, the Order-State of Burgundy, or the US under Emperor Norton)?
I'll start.
The Ottoman Empire:
The Ottomans had a proud tradition of military music. It's a bit disappointing to me that the Ottoman Imperial Anthems were mostly composed by an Italian Catholic, and they're all pretty unmemorable. I understand, however, that Janissary marches wouldn't be appropriate as personal/dynastic anthems, nor for a national anthem after the Auspicious Incident.
However, Sultan Abdülaziz was a talented and famous composer, so I propose one of his compositions. My favourite is Hicazkar Sirto and the Sultan's Polka (although the latter might be ill-suited for an anthem).
If the Ottomans survive World War I, then the İstiklal Marşı -- the national anthem of the Turkish Republic in our timeline -- might be their national anthem. Its author, Mehmed Akif Ersoy, was an Islamist and Ottoman loyalist who was deeply disappointed in Atatürk's secularist policies. I can see that song (which is all about martyrdom, jihad, etc) being adopted by the Ottomans as an anti-nationalist, pan-Islamist, imperial anthem; whereas Atatürk used it as a national anthem.
The United States of America:
This is just a matter of taste, but I hate the "Star-Spangled Banner." The US has so many patriotic songs that are much better in every way.
Battle-Hymn of the Republic is much better. It sounds grand, glorious, and inspiring, and it's about themes of sacrifice and liberation. I understand that it is a very Christian song, and that might violate the First Amendment; but regardless, I think it would be a much better song. I think it could be adopted as the national anthem, in a timeline where Lincoln wasn't assassinated, Reconstruction went a lot further, and culturally the North adopted a more triumphalist attitude towards the South after the American Civil War.
Alternatively, Battle-Cry of Freedom in the same scenario.
I don't think Marching Through Georgia could really work as a national anthem, since it's all about a campaign through a US state and can't really be spun as having univeral ideals. So instead, Marching Through Georgia might be the national anthem in a timeline where Sherman's March still happens, but the South somehow manages to win anyway. I don't know how that could happen without ASB or rewriting the history of the Civil War entirely, but it could reflect a kind of Northern revanchism towards the South.
A national anthem is a song which is supposed to officially represent a nation. Likewise, a royal anthem represents a monarch or a dynasty. There's supposed to be both an aesthetic and a symbolic dimension to which music is chosen as the national anthem. Given that, what are some alternative pieces of music which could have been recognised as their countries' national anthems, had history gone down a different route? Or alternatively -- what would you propose as the anthems for countries (or provinces, cities, dynasties, etc) that never had one, either because they existed before such a concept (like the Roman Empire), because it wasn't part of their culture (like the Mughal Empire or the Zulu Kingdom), or because the countries themselves never actually existed (like the United Baltic Duchy, the Order-State of Burgundy, or the US under Emperor Norton)?
I'll start.
The Ottoman Empire:
The Ottomans had a proud tradition of military music. It's a bit disappointing to me that the Ottoman Imperial Anthems were mostly composed by an Italian Catholic, and they're all pretty unmemorable. I understand, however, that Janissary marches wouldn't be appropriate as personal/dynastic anthems, nor for a national anthem after the Auspicious Incident.
However, Sultan Abdülaziz was a talented and famous composer, so I propose one of his compositions. My favourite is Hicazkar Sirto and the Sultan's Polka (although the latter might be ill-suited for an anthem).
If the Ottomans survive World War I, then the İstiklal Marşı -- the national anthem of the Turkish Republic in our timeline -- might be their national anthem. Its author, Mehmed Akif Ersoy, was an Islamist and Ottoman loyalist who was deeply disappointed in Atatürk's secularist policies. I can see that song (which is all about martyrdom, jihad, etc) being adopted by the Ottomans as an anti-nationalist, pan-Islamist, imperial anthem; whereas Atatürk used it as a national anthem.
The United States of America:
This is just a matter of taste, but I hate the "Star-Spangled Banner." The US has so many patriotic songs that are much better in every way.
Battle-Hymn of the Republic is much better. It sounds grand, glorious, and inspiring, and it's about themes of sacrifice and liberation. I understand that it is a very Christian song, and that might violate the First Amendment; but regardless, I think it would be a much better song. I think it could be adopted as the national anthem, in a timeline where Lincoln wasn't assassinated, Reconstruction went a lot further, and culturally the North adopted a more triumphalist attitude towards the South after the American Civil War.
Alternatively, Battle-Cry of Freedom in the same scenario.
I don't think Marching Through Georgia could really work as a national anthem, since it's all about a campaign through a US state and can't really be spun as having univeral ideals. So instead, Marching Through Georgia might be the national anthem in a timeline where Sherman's March still happens, but the South somehow manages to win anyway. I don't know how that could happen without ASB or rewriting the history of the Civil War entirely, but it could reflect a kind of Northern revanchism towards the South.
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