National
Anthem: O Canada
Official Lyrics of O Canada!
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
The History of the National Anthem
Summary
"O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's
national anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first
sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée,
a well-known composer; French lyrics to accompany the music
were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The song gained
steadily in popularity. Many English versions have appeared
over the years. The version on which the official English
lyrics are based was written in 1908 by Mr. Justice Robert
Stanley Weir. The official English version includes changes
recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate
and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unaltered.
Full History of "O Canada"
Many people think of Calixa Lavallée
as an obscure music teacher who dashed off a patriotic song
in a moment of inspiration. The truth is quite different.
Lavallée was, in fact, known as "Canada's national
musician" and it was on this account that he was asked
to compose the music for a poem written by Judge Adolphe-Basile
Routhier.
The occasion was the "Congrès
national des Canadiens-Français" in1880, which
was being held at the same time as the St. Jean-Baptiste Day
celebrations.
There had been some thought of holding a
competition for a national hymn to have its first performance
on St. Jean-Baptiste Day, June 24, but by January the committee
in charge decided there was not enough time, so the Lieutenant
Governor of Quebec, the Honourable Théodore Robitaille,
commissioned Judge Routhier to write a hymn and Lavallée
to compose the tune. Lavallée made a number of drafts
before the tune we know was greeted with enthusiasm by his
musical friends. It is said that in the excitement of success
Lavallée rushed to show his music to the Lieutenant
Governor without even stopping to sign the manuscript.
The first performance took place on June
24, 1880 at a banquet in the "Pavillon des Patineurs"
in Quebec City as the climax of a"Mosaïque sur des
airs populaires canadiens" arranged by Joseph Vézina,
a prominent composer and bandmaster.
Although this first performance of "O
Canada" with Routhier's French words was well received
on the evening, it does not seem to have made a lasting impression
at that time. Arthur Lavigne, a Quebec musician and music
dealer, published it without copyright but there was no rush
to reprint. Lavallée's obit in 1891 doesn't mention
it among his accomplishments, nor does a biography of Judge
Routhier published in 1898. French Canada is represented in
the 1887 edition of the University of Toronto song book by
"Vive la canadienne", "A la claire fontaine"
and "Un canadien errant".
English Canada in general probably first
heard "O Canada" when school children sang it when
the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and
Queen Mary) toured Canada in 1901. Five years later Whaley
and Royce in Toronto published the music with the French text
and a translation into English made by Dr. Thomas Bedford
Richardson, a Toronto doctor. The Mendelssohn Choir used the
Richardson lyrics in one of their performances about this
time and Judge Routhier and the French press complimented
the author.
Richardson version:
O Canada! Our fathers' land of old
Thy brow is crown'd with leaves of red and gold.
Beneath the shade of the Holy Cross
Thy children own their birth
No stains thy glorious annals gloss
Since valour shield thy hearth.
Almighty God! On thee we call
Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall,
Defend our rights, forfend this nation's thrall.
In 1908 Collier's Weekly inaugurated its
Canadian edition with a competition for an English text to
Lavallée's music. It was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch,
but her version did not take.
McCulloch version :
O Canada! in praise of thee we sing;
From echoing hills our anthems proudly ring.
With fertile plains and mountains grand
With lakes and rivers clear,
Eternal beauty, thos dost stand
Throughout the changing year.
Lord God of Hosts! We now implore
Bless our dear land this day and evermore,
Bless our dear land this day and evermore.
Since then many English versions have been
written for "O Canada". Poet Wilfred Campbell wrote
one. So did Augustus Bridle, Toronto critic. Some were written
for the 1908 tercentenary of Quebec City. One version became
popular in British Columbia...
Buchan version:
O Canada, our heritage, our love
Thy worth we praise all other lands above.
From sea to see throughout their length
From Pole to borderland,
At Britain's side, whate'er betide
Unflinchingly we'll stand
With hearts we sing, "God save the King",
Guide then one Empire wide, do we implore,
And prosper Canada from shore to shore.
However the version that gained the widest
currency was made in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer
and at the time Recorder of the City of Montréal. A
slightly modified version of the 1908 poem was published in
an official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation
in 1927, and has since been generally accepted in English
speaking Canada. Following further minor amendments, the first
verse of Weir's poem was proclaimed as Canada's national anthem
in 1980. The version adopted pursuant to the National Anthem
Act in 1980 reads as follows:
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North, strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free !
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Many musicians have made arrangements of
"O Canada" but there appears to be a scarcity of
recordings suitable for various purposes.
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Calixa Lavallée
Musical note Calixa Lavallée was
a "canadien errant", a man who left his country
for greener fields, but who nevertheless loved Canada and
returned to it, returned with a reputation well earned in
the United States and France to become the "national
musician" of Canada. He was, in his time, a composer
operettas, at least one symphony, various occasional pieces
and songs; he was a pianist and organist of considerable note
and he was a teacher who wanted to found the first Canadian
Conservatory.
The famous Canadian choral conductor Augustus
Stephen Volt said of him: "I became acquainted with Lavallée
in the 80's of the last century, when I was in Boston as a
student of music, and he impressed me as a man of extraordinary
ability - not merely as a clever executant of the piano, and
not merely as an adroit deviser of pretty melodies and sensuous
harmonies, but as a genuinely creative artist, a pure musical
genius".
Calixa Lavallée was born in Verchères,
Canada East, on December 28, 1842, the son of Augustin Lavallée,
a woodcutter and blacksmith, who became an instrument repairman,
bandleader and music teacher. Later when the family moved
to St-Hyacinthe, the father worked for the famous organ-builder
Joseph Casavant and led the townband. Calixa showed talent
early and played the organ in the cathedral at the age of
eleven. Two years later he gave a piano recital at the Théâtre
Royal in Montréal.
In Montréal Lavallée met Léon
Derome, a butcher who loved music. He became Lavallée's
lifelong patron and friend, often coming to his aid in bad
times.
About this time, Calixa tired of regular
lessons and left Montréal to try his luck in the United
States. In New Orleans, he won a competition which in turn
won him a job as accompanist to the famous Spanish violinist
Olivera. After touring with Olivera in Brazil and the West
Indies, Lavallée joined the Northern army during the
American Civil War.
Leaving the U.S. army as a lieutenant, Lavallée
returned to Montréal where he gave piano lessons and
played cornet in a theatre orchestra.
In 1865 he returned to the United States
to teach and give a series of concert tours. He married and
began to work with Arnold de Thiers, with whom he composed
a comic opera called "Loulou". The night before
its first performance, the owner of the opera house was shot
and the theatre closed. Lavallée, who had been conductor
and artistic director of the theatre, the NewYork Grand Opera
House, found himself out of a job.
He returned to Montréal in 1872 to
a warm welcome from his friends, and had soon set up a studio
with Jehin Prume and Rositadel Vecchio, well-known musicians.
Success in Montréal brought him the fulfillment of
a lifelong dream, to continue his musical education in Paris.
A group of friends led by Derome made him a monthly allowance
while he studied with Bazin, Boieldieu and Marmontel. A Lavallée
symphony was performed by a Paris orchestra in 1874 and his
teachers predicted a great future for him.
Lavallée decided to devote his life
to the establishment of a conservatory in Canada. To prove
that talent existed, he mounted a Gounod drama with an all-Canadian
cast of 80. The venture was a great success and Lavallée
had high hopes of interesting the government in his idea.
But although the public responded warmly to his productions,
official quarters gave nothing but vague promises.
It was during this Quebec period, in 1880
that Lavallée composed the music of "O Canada"
for the "Congrès national des Canadiens-Français".
But he could see nothing ahead but routine teaching and playing,
so once again he took off for the United States.
Things took a turn for the better. He was
appointed an organist and choirmaster; he toured with the
famous Hungarian soprano Etelka Gerster; he increased his
composing; many of his works were performed including "Tiq",
a "melodramatic musical satire"on the Indian question
and his comic opera "The Widow". As a member of
the Music Teachers' National Association, he organized a number
of very successful concerts, and finally, in 1887, was elected
president.
In 1888 Lavallée represented the professional
musicians of America in London and introduced American compositions
in London where the Lord Mayor gave a dinner in his honour.
Lavallée's health had been poor for
some years and after his return to Boston became much worse.
By the autumn of 1890 he was bedridden and in financial straits.
He died on January 21, 1891,at the age of 49, leaving some
60 works, only about half of which have been found.
Lavallée was buried near Boston but
his body was brought back to Canada in 1933 and now rests
in Montréal Cemetery Côte-des-Neiges.
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Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier
Adolphe Routhier (1839-1920) was born in Saint-Placide (Lower
Canada). He was a distinguished lawyer who, like many members
of his profession, was active in the community life of both
his profession and his co-religionists. He was appointed a
judge in 1873 and was a founding member of the Royal Society
of Canada. He was probably better known as a poet than as
a judge, and it was natural that the Honourable Théodore
Robitaille, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, should turn to
him to write the words of a hymn for the great "Congrès
national des Canadians-Français" in 1880. Since
Routhier was president of the Congress at the time, a happier
choice could hardly have been made. His poem for "O Canada!"
was widely praised on its first presentation.
Routhier who wrote under the name of Jean Piquefort, was
later Chief Justice of Quebec until his retirement from the
Bench in 1906.
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The Honourable Robert Stanley Weir
Robert Stanley Weir (1856-1926) was born
in Hamilton, in what was then Canada West. He took all his
higher education in Montreal, and was qualified for both teaching
and the law. He chose law and rose rapidly in the profession,
becoming in due course, like Routhier, a judge first as Recorder
of the City of Montréal and later to the Exchequer
Court of Canada (now the Federal Court of Canada). He wrote
both learned legal works and poetry, and his fame as a writer
won him election as a Fellow of the Royal Society which Routhier
had helped found.
Weir had been a member of the Quebec Legislative
Assembly for Argenteuil from 1903 to 1910, during which period
he served in the Parent and Gouin Ministries as Minister without
portfolio, Minister of Public Works or Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly.
Parliamentary Action
By the time the World War broke out in 1914,
"O Canada" was the best known patriotic song in
Canada, edging out "The Maple leaf Forever" and
others less well-known today.
1924 - The association of Canadian Clubs
passed a unanimous resolution recommending the Weir version
as suitable for use at Club meetings.
Since then the I.O.D.E. and the Canadian Authors Association
have endorsed it and in 1958 the Native Sons of Canada found
in favour of it.
1927 - An official version of "O Canada"
was authorized for singing in Canadian schools and for use
at public functions.
1942 - July 27. The Prime Minister, the Right
Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King, was asked if he did
not think this an appropriate time for proclaiming a national
anthem. He replied that "There are times and seasons
for all things and this time of war when there are other more
important questions with which parliament has to deal, we
might well continue to follow what has become the custom in
Canada in recent years of regarding "God Save The King"
and "O Canada" each as national anthems and entitled
to similar recognition." He said further that this was
his opinion, his government's opinion and he had no doubt
it was the opinion of most people in the country.
Some years later, his successor as Prime Minister, the Right
Honourable Louis St-Laurent made a similar statement.
1964 - A government resolution authorized
the formation of a special joint committee to consider the
status of "God Save The Queen" and "O Canada".
1966 - January 31. The Prime Minister, the
Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, placed a notice of motion
on the order paper "That the government be authorized
to take such steps as may be necessary to provide that "O
Canada" shall be the National Anthem of Canada while
"God Save The Queen" shall be the Royal Anthem of
Canada.
1967 - March 15. The special joint committee
"unanimously recommends that the government be authorized
to adopt forthwith the music for "O Canada" composed
by Calixa Lavallée as the music of the National Anthem
of Canada with the following notation added to the sheet music:
With dignity, not too slowly.
"God Save The Queen" was found
to be in the public domain as the Royal Anthem of Canada,
but for "O Canada" the committee deemed it "essential
to take such steps as necessary to appropriate the copyright
to the music providing that it shall belong to Her Majesty
in right of Canada for all time. This provision would also
include that no other person shall be entitled to copyright
in the music or any arrangements or adaptations thereof."
The committee recommended further study of
the lyrics. It suggested keeping the original French version
and using the Weir English version with minor changes - that
is replacing two of the "Stand on guard" phrases
with "From far and wide" and "God keep our
land".
There was no trouble with the music copyright
which had by now descended to Gordon V. Thompson. They were
willing to sell for $1, but the heirs of Judge Weir objected
to the changes in the original version. Since Judge Weir died
in 1926, the Weir version would not come into public domain
until 1976. There was some doubt that the Weir family had
legal grounds for objection since Thompson's apparently held
copyright on both music and English words. However the committee
preferred to settle the matter amicably if at all possible.
The Government acquired the rights from G.V. Thompson in 1970.
The version recommended by the committee:
O Canada! our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
1972 - February 28 - The Secretary of State
of Canada, the Honourable Gérard Pelletier, presented
a bill in the House of Commons proposing the adoption of "O
Canada" as the National Anthem of Canada. The recommendations
of the 1967 study in Parliament are incorporated in the bill,
which did not receive further study in Parliament and died
on the order paper. The same legislation was reintroduced
by Mr. Pelletier's successors at further sessions of Parliament;
no action was ever taken.
1980 - June 18 - The Secretary of State of
Canada, the Honourable Francis Fox, presented a bill, similar
to previously presented bills on "O Canada", fulfilling
a promise made earlier in the House that "O Canada"
be proclaimed as Canada's national anthem as soon as possible
in this year of the centenary of the first rendition. The
bill was unanimously accepted by the House of Commons and
the Senate on June 27; Royal assent was given the same day.
July 1 - The Governor General, His Excellency
the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, proclaimed the Act respecting
the National Anthem of Canada, thus making "O Canada"
an official symbol of the country. A public ceremony was held
at noon on Parliament Hill in front of thousands of Canadians.
Descendants of Weir and Routhier were on the official platform,
as well as the successor of Robitaille, the Honourable Jean-Pierre
Côté.
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Original Poem by Weir
Originally "O Canada" was a patriotic
poem by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a Quebec judge. Calixa
Lavallée, the well-known Canadian composer, was commissioned
to set it to music, and it was first sung in 1880 during a
national convention of French Canadians in Quebec City. Many
English versions have appeared, but the one which was widely
accepted was written in 1908 by another judge, R. Stanley
Weir, in honour of the 300th anniversary of the founding of
Quebec City. It was amended in 1913, 1914 and 1916 and published
in an official form at the time of the Diamond Jubilee of
Confederation in 1927 and during the Royal visit of 1939.
A slightly modified version of the first verse of Weir's poem
was proclaimed as Canada's national anthem in 1980. The original
poem of 1908 by Stanley Weir reads as follows:
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.
English Translation of the French Version of the
National Anthem
O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.
Ch.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.
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Music and lyrics
As the National Anthem Act only sets the melody for the anthem,
musicians are free to arrange the score to suit their requirements.
There is no copyright on the melody and the words of the
national anthem, the Act having declared them to be in the
public domain. It is possible, however, to copyright the arrangements
made to the melody.
It is possible to translate the words of the national anthem
in languages other than English or French; it should be kept
in mind, however, that this translated version will not have
an official status.
Playing of anthems at events
There is no specific rule as to when it is appropriate to
sing the national anthem at an event. It is up to the organizers
to determine if "O Canada" will be sung at the beginning
or at the end of a ceremony. If two anthems are to be played
at the beginning of an event, "O Canada" should
be played first followed by the other one. When anthems are
played at the end of an event, "O Canada" should
be played last.
Etiquette during the playing of the national anthem
As a matter of respect and tradition, it is proper to stand
for the playing of "O Canada" as well as for the
anthem of any other nation.
It is traditional for civilian men to take off their hats
during the playing of the national anthem. Women as well as
children do not remove their hats on such occasions.
There is no law or behaviour governing the playing of the
national anthem; it is left to the good citizenship of individuals.
Commercial use
"O Canada" and "God Save The Queen" are
in the public domain and may be used without having to obtain
permission from the Government.
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