 Sheet music produced for the debut of "Ode to Newfoundland" in January 1902. | |
Provincial anthem of  Newfoundland and Labrador Dominion of Newfoundland (National anthem 1907–1949) | |
| Lyrics | Sir Cavendish Boyle, January 1902 |
|---|---|
| Music | Sir Hubert Parry |
| Adopted | Originally adopted 1904, relinquished 1949, re-adopted 1980 |
| Audio sample | |
Children's Vocal rendition | |
"Ode to Newfoundland" is the official provincial anthem of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Originally composed by Governor Sir Cavendish Boyle in 1902[1] as a four-verse poem titled Newfoundland; it was sung by Frances Daisy Foster at the Casino Theatre of St. John's during the closing of the play Mamzelle on December 22, 1902.[1] 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, the Ode was chosen as Newfoundland's official national anthem.[1] This distinction was dropped when Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949. Three decades later, in 1980, the province re-adopted the song as an official provincial anthem, the first province to do so. The Ode is still sung at public events to this day as a tradition. Typically, only the first and last verses are sung.
- ^ a b c Winter, Kathleen (1993). "Ode to Newfoundland". In Poole, Cyril F.; Cuff, Robert (eds.). Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. Vol. 4. St. John's, Nfld.: Harry Cuff Publications. pp. 150, 151. Retrieved 29 December 2015.