ARCHIVAL MOMENT
January 21, 1902
Photo Credit: The Rooms Provincial Archives MG 596 -110 sheet music, lyrics, and illustrated cover for patriotic composition, Newfoundland.
On January 22, 1902, the local St. John’s newspaper, The Daily News, reported that on the previous evening at the Casino Theatre in St. John’s that the “Newfoundland “ now known as ‘The Ode To Newfoundland’ was sung for the very first time. The new song was greeted enthusiastically.
The newspaper article reads: “Miss Frances Daisy Foster rendered with exquisite feeling a new song entitled “Newfoundland.” It proved a pleasant surprise and the general appreciation of it was marked by the audience joining spontaneously in the chorus.”
The “Ode to Newfoundland” was composed by Governor, Sir Cavendish Boyle, the music for the Governor’s poem was arranged by Professor E.R. Krippner.
The Daily News reporter knew that he had heard something very special, he observed “he has given us a poem which may be chosen as the Colony’s own anthem.”
The words have since become etched in Newfoundlanders’ collective memory.
When Sunrays 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.
When spreads thy cloak of shimm’ring 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.
When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore,
And wild waves lash thy strand,
thro’ sprindrift swirl and tempest roar,
we love thee, wind-swept land,
We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee, wind-swept land.
As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood we stand,
Their payer we raise to heav’n above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland,
God guard thee, God guard thee,
God guard thee, Newfoundland.
Recommended Archival Collection: At the Rooms Provincial Archives Division take some time to look at MG 956.110 this item consists of sheet music, lyrics, and illustrated cover for patriotic composition, Newfoundland.
Recommended (Academic) Reading: The Newfoundland Journal: Volume 22, Number 1 (2007) Imagining Nation: Music and Identity in Pre-Confederation Newfoundland: Glenn Colton: Lakehead University. http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/nflds/article/view/10096/10349
Recommended (Children) Reading: Ode to Newfoundland – Geoff Butler an illustrated book celebrating the land, seascapes, people, and traditions of Newfoundland.
Recommended Activity: Sing your heart out – sing along. http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/anthem.htm