Rule Britannia! (which is often erroneously spelled Rule, Brittania) by Thomas Arne is one of Britain’s most well-known patriotic songs. It has its origins in the poem Rule Britannia by James Thomson. Thomas Arne set this poem to music in 1740, and Rule Britannia achieved instant popularity. It was performed for the first time on August 1st 1740 during the masque (festive courtly entertainment) entitled Alfred at Cliefdon House in Maidenhead. The lyrics were published three weeks after this event and the music a few months after that. Handel went on to quote the opening melody in his Occasional Oratorio. The tune was so popular by now that he had no doubt that the listeners would recognise it. Wagner and Beethoven would both write works based on the melody of Rule, Britannia. The lyrics, too have seen many people attempting to re-write them, amongst them the Jacobites and an American version entitled: “Rise, Columbia!”

One common misconception is that the main chorus is:

Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves.

Whereas the actual lyric is:

Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the wave.

Being such a patriotic song it has of course become a mainstay of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms, where usually a guest artist is asked to perform Rule Britannia. Past artists have included Bryn Terfel (who sang a verse in Welsh), Thomas Hampson and Felicity Lott.