Ode to Newfoundland
Encyclopedia
"Ode to Newfoundland" is the official provincial anthem of Newfoundland and Labrador
. It was composed by Governor Sir Cavendish Boyle in 1902. as a four-verse poem entitled Newfoundland. On December 22, 1902 it was sung by Frances Daisy Foster at the Casino Theatre of St. John's
during the closing of the play Mamzelle. The original score was set to the music of E.R. Krippner, a German bandmaster living in St. John's but Boyle desired a more dignified score. It was then set to the music of British composer Sir Hubert Parry
, a personal friend of Boyle, who composed two settings. On May 20, 1904 it was chosen as Newfoundland's
official national anthem (national being understood as a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire on par with Canada, South Africa, Australia and other former British colonies) . This distinction was dropped when Newfoundland joined the Canadian
Confederation in 1949. Three decades later, in 1980, the province re-adopted the song as an official provincial anthem. Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada to officially adopt a provincial anthem.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. It was composed by Governor Sir Cavendish Boyle in 1902. as a four-verse poem entitled Newfoundland. On December 22, 1902 it was sung by Frances Daisy Foster at the Casino Theatre of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
during the closing of the play Mamzelle. The original score was set to the music of E.R. Krippner, a German bandmaster living in St. John's but Boyle desired a more dignified score. It was then set to the music of British composer Sir Hubert Parry
Hubert Parry
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is best known for the choral song "Jerusalem", the coronation anthem "I was glad" and the hymn tune "Repton", which sets the words...
, a personal friend of Boyle, who composed two settings. On May 20, 1904 it was chosen as Newfoundland's
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
official national anthem (national being understood as a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire on par with Canada, South Africa, Australia and other former British colonies) . This distinction was dropped when Newfoundland joined the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Confederation in 1949. Three decades later, in 1980, the province re-adopted the song as an official provincial anthem. Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada to officially adopt a provincial anthem.
Lyrics
| 1. | When sun rays crown thy pine clad hills, And summer spreads her hand, When silvern voices tune thy rills, We love thee, smiling land. We love thee, we love thee, We love thee, smiling land. |
| 2. | When spreads thy cloak of shimmering white, At winter's stern command, Thro' shortened day, and starlit night, We love thee, frozen land. We love thee, we love thee We love thee, frozen land. |
| 3. | When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore, And wild waves lash thy strand, Thro' spindrift swirl, and tempest roar, We love thee windswept land. We love thee, we love thee We love thee windswept land. |
| 4. | As loved our fathers, so we love, Where once they stood, we stand; Their prayer we raise to Heaven above, God guard thee, Newfoundland God guard thee, God guard thee, God guard thee, Newfoundland. |