To Anacreon in Heaven

To Anacreon in Heaven

(An Anakreon im Himmel) oder

Anacreontic Song

(Anakreontisches Lied) ist ein englisches Lied. Auf der Melodie des Liedes beruht die US-amerikanische Nationalhymne.

Bedeutung

Das Lied war im London des 18. Jahrhunderts die Hymne der Anacreontic Society. Die Melodie von John Stafford Smith (1750–1836) ist – bis auf geringfügige Änderungen – identisch mit derjenigen der Nationalhymne der Vereinigten Staaten. Die Hymne wurde von 1772 bis 1792 als Trinklied gesungen.^[1] Ihr Inhalt ist eine Huldigung des Dichters Anakreon und seines baccantischen Stils.

I.: To Anacreon in Heav'n,
Where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony
Sent a petition
That he their Inspirer
And Patron would be;
When this answer arrived
From the Jolly Old Grecian:
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name
And inspire you to boot,
Refrain: And besides I'll instruct you,
Like me, to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine."
II.: The news through Olympus
Immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended
To give himself airs.
"If these Mortals are suffered
Their scheme to pursue,
The devil a Goddess,
Will stay above stairs.
Hark, already they cry,
In transports of joy,
'Away to the Sons
Of Anacreon we'll fly,
Refrain: And there with good fellows,
We'll learn to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine.'

III.: The Yellow-Haired God
And his nine fusty Maids
From Helicon's banks
Will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast
But of tenantless shades,
And the bi-forked hill
A mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do its errand,
And dam'me I'll swing
The Ringleaders I warrant.
Refrain: I'll trim the young dogs,
For thus daring to twine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine."
IV.: Apollo rose up,
And said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good King of the Gods,
With My Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless"--
Then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitabile
Fulmen, you know!
Then over each head,
My laurels I'll spread,
So my sons from your Crackers
No mischief shall dread,
Refrain: While, snug in their clubroom,
They jovially twine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine."

V.: Next Momus got up
With his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo
He'd cheerfully join --
"The full tide of Harmony
Still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch,
And the Laugh shall be mine.
Then, Jove, be not jealous
Of these honest fellows."
Cry'd Jove, "We relent,
Since the truth you now tell us:
Refrain: And swear by Old Styx,
That they long shall intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine."
VI.: Ye Sons of Anacreon,
Then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity,
Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support
What's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods,
And the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy,
United, and Free!
Chorus: And long may the Sons
Of Anacreon intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine."

Mark Argent (Herausgeber): Recollections of R.J.S. Stevens: An Organist in Georgian London (Music in Georgian and Victorian Society), Southern Illinois University Press, Juli 1992, ISBN 0-8093-1790-7

Einige Textausgaben:

The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. Volume L. For the Year MDCCLXXX [1780]. By Sylvanus Urban, Gent. London, 1780, S. 224 als Anacreontic Song (Google, Google)
Calliope: Or, the Musical Miscellany. A Select Collection of the Most Approved English, Scots, and Irish Songs, set to Music. London, 1788, S. 5ff. als To Anacreon in Heaven (Google)
The Vocal Library; Being the Largest Collection of English, Scottish, and Irish Songs, Ever Printed in a Single Volume. Selected from the Best Authors, Between the Age of Shakspeare, Jonson, and Cowley, and that of Dibdin, Wolcot, and Moorf. London, 1824, S. 16 als To Anacreon in Heaven (Google)
Davidson's Universal Melodist, consisting of the Music and Words of Popular, Standard, and Original Songs, &c. Arranged so as to be equally adapted for the Sight-Singer, the Performer on the Flute, Cornopean, Accordion, Violin, or other Treble Instrument. Vol. I. London, 1853, S. 300 als To Anacreon in Heaven (vgl. auch S. 236 Anacreon, they say, was a jolly old Blade) (Google)

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