O, say can you write an anthem?

By Marcia Adair

LOS ANGELES — In a game of word association, Abbey Road equals
the Beatles and nothing else. But the Fab Four are but one part of
this illustrious studio’s history. For the first 20 years of its
life, Abbey Road Studios was home to classical music recordings
made by EMI. The first recording at the studio was “Land of Hope
and Glory” conducted by Edward Elgar in 1931.

To mark its 80th birthday, Abbey Road has a devised a
competition that gives composers of all ages and abilities the
opportunity to have a piece recorded at the studio with the London
Symphony Orchestra and some of the U.K.’s best singers.

The challenge? Compose an anthem scored for choir that has not
been previously published or commercially recorded.

In its most narrow definition, an anthem is a piece of laudatory
or celebratory religious music sung by a choir.

Considering the activities with which traditional non-national
anthems are most closely associated — soccer, rugby and cricket
matches, mainstream church services and coronations — it is quite
possible to go a lifetime without hearing one.

The 21st century definition of anthem has expanded to include
essentially any song to which a crowd of people would spontaneously
sing along. (“YMCA,” “Dancing Queen,” “We Will Rock You,” etc.) Of
course, if you’re a record-label marketer, there are no guidelines.
For instance, “25 Greatest BBQ Anthems” (“Don’t Stop Believing,”
“More Than Feeling)” is no less legit as a compilation that might
feature chestnuts by Elgar, Charles Villiers Stanford, Vaughan
Williams and Hubert Parry — and, let’s be honest, would sell more
copies.