Fantasia on British Sea Songs

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Fantasia on British Sea Songs or Fantasy on British Sea Songs is a piece of classical music arranged by Sir Henry Wood in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is a medley on British sea songs and now forms an indispensable item at the BBC's Last Night of the Proms concert.

It is generally composed of nine parts, although in recent years there have been some alterations by the BBC. The fantasia commences with a series of six naval bugle calls and their responses. These calls were traditionally used to convey orders on a naval warship. The first call is Admiral's salute, call five is Prepare to ram and the final call is Quick double, extend and close. In 2005, the bugle calls were restored to the fantasia after a long absence, although Ye Spanish Ladies was removed, replaced by three regional folk songs (Ar Hyd y Nos, The Skye Boat Song and Londonderry Air). Since Rule, Britannia! was dropped from the Last Night of the Proms in 2002 a chorus and verse has been inserted into the fantasia in lieu.

Crowd participation during the Fantasia is essential. Mock tears are shed by the audience during Tom Bowling, feet are stamped in time to the introduction of Jack's the Lad, being followed by the honking of hooters and a crescendoing clapping during the climax. This frantic pace is juxtaposed with the solemn humming with Home, Sweet Home and then the whistling of the melody of See, The Conquering Hero Comes. This routine is obligatory on the part of the "prommers" (the audience members standing in the promenade area, hence "proms") and is always interspersed with the ill-timed firing of party poppers and blowing of party whistles, to the general amusement of the audience and orchestra. During the various solos, the performing artist often ad libs their own variation on the melody and various parts of the Fantasia are often at the request of the audience, whose participation is usually encouraged by light-hearted mockery on the part of the conductor.

[edit] Movements

1. Bugle Calls
2. The Anchor's Weighed
3. The Saucy Arethusa
4. Tom Bowling
5. Jack's The Lad (Hornpipe)
6. Farewell and Adieu
7. Ye Spanish Ladies
8. Home, Sweet Home
9. See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes
10. Rule, Britannia!