Original Anthem: Jerusalem
Country: England
Style: 6/8 Blues
“Those Ancient Feet Again in Three Time” is a jazz take on the popular English anthem, “Jerusalem”.
The lyrics of “Jerusalem” are from the poem, “And did those feet in ancient time” by William Blake, which describes a mythical visit to Glastonbury, England by a young Jesus, accompanied by Joseph of Arimathea.
It was set to music in 1916 by Sir Hubert Parry, and further orchestrated by Sir Edward Elgar in 1922. As with “I Vow to Thee My Country,” it has an association with the First World War because of its original commissioning by the pro-war “Fight for Right Movement”. However, this association was soon lost after the copyright passed to the Suffragist Movement and Parry agreed for it to become the Women Voters’ Hymn.
It became popular very rapidly and has since been recorded and performed many times, and adopted as a hymn by several churches, schools and public institutions, as well as an anthem for England in rugby league and in cricket.
Such has been its popularity that there was even a move to have it replace “God Save the King” as the national anthem.
“Those Ancient Feet Again in Three Time” derives its name from the reworking of “Jerusalem” as a jazz waltz, not dissimilar to the feel produced by the reworking of “My Favourite Things” as a waltz by John Coltrane.
Instrumentation
Alto sax: Charlie Hearnshaw
Piano: Chris Lee
Acoustic bass: Neil Todd
Drums: Massimo de Majo
