Today's letter from the Editor
Today's Matrices
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs General

C++ Python Developer -Bank -London-Up to £600/day!

£550 - £600 per day: Orgtel: C++ Python Developer - Banking - London - Up to £...

Are you a dynamic Primary teacher looking for work in Bromley?

£5520 - £31200 per annum: Randstad Education London: If you are then please ap...

EYFS/KS1 Teacher Maternity Contract - September Start - Bromley

MPS + OLA: Randstad Education London: Randstad Education are working with a Cl...

Head of English

£42000 - £46000 per annum + depending on experience: Randstad Education London...

i Editor's Letter: New arrangement

 

Poor Philip Sheppard. Who knew that a composer's life could be so full of danger and diplomatic incident? Mr Sheppard, you may remember, was responsible for coming up with arrangements for the 205 national anthems that, potentially, could have been played at the Olympics.

Colombia was the first country to take offence: Mr Sheppard received death threats - quite unfairly - because the anthem, "Oh, Unfading Glory", was included in an online league table of "worst national anthems" .

Then a Hungarian athlete complained that the arrangement of his national anthem was too fast, while the Dutch, reportedly, had a quiet word with the Olympic authorities about the chord progressions in theirs.

The latest furore, however, is over Mr Sheppard's arrangement of our own anthem, God Save The Queen, which has a new harmonisation and is missing four notes! You might not have realised, because they're not actually sung. They form the transition (dah, dah, dah dah, or G, A, B, C, depending on your musical ability) between the first bit ("God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen") and the second bit ("Send her victorious etc").

As your letters (page 14) demonstrate, the national anthem is a subject that arouses strong passions. Readers are divided on whether they agree with i columnist Dominic Lawson, who earlier this week complained it was a dirge, and others who fear a replacement might be even worse.

Personally, I rather like Mr Sheppard's new arrangement. What I like even more is that we are getting to hear it so often.

Stefano Hatfield is away

Follow @VBackyard
Career Services

Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over