Scholes' analysis includes mention of "untenable" and "doubtful" claims, as well as "an American misattribution". It was recorded as being sung in London theatres in 1745, with, for example, Thomas Arne writing a setting of the tune for the Drury Lane Theatre. The tune published in The Gentleman's Magazine in 1745 departs from that used today at several points, one as early as the first bar, but is otherwise clearly a strong relative of the contemporary anthem. When the Jacobite pretender Charles Edward Stuart led the 1745 rising, the song spread among those loyal to King George II. The first published version that resembles the present song appeared in 1744, with no title but the heading "For two voices", in an anthology originally named Harmonia Britannia but changed after only a few copies had been printed to Thesaurus Musicus. Nineteenth-century scholars and commentators mention the widespread belief that an old Scots carol, "Remember O Thou Man", was the source of the tune. He also points to several pieces by Henry Purcell, one of which includes the opening notes of the modern tune, setting the words "God Save the King". Scholes quotes a keyboard piece by John Bull (1619) which has some similarities to the modern tune, depending on the placing of accidentals which at that time were unwritten in certain cases and left to the discretion of the player (see musica ficta).
In The Oxford Companion to Music, Percy Scholes points out the similarities to an early plainsong melody, although the rhythm is very distinctly that of a galliard, and he gives examples of several such dance tunes that bear a striking resemblance to "God Save the King". The first six bars also form all or part of the viceregal salute in some Commonwealth realms other than the UK (e.g., in Canada, governors general and lieutenant governors at official events are saluted with the first six bars of "God Save the King" followed by the first four and last four bars of " O Canada"), as well as the salute given to governors of British overseas territories. The entire composition is the musical salute for the monarch and royal consort, while other members of the royal family who are entitled to royal salute (such as the Prince of Wales, along with his spouse) receive just the first six bars. Sometimes two verses are sung and, on certain occasions, three. Since its first publication, different verses have been added and taken away and, even today, different publications include various selections of verses in various orders. In Switzerland, it is known as " Rufst du, mein Vaterland".īeyond its first verse, which is consistent, "God Save the King" has many historic and extant versions. The melody was also used for the national anthem " Heil dir im Siegerkranz" of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and as " The Prayer of Russians", the imperial anthem of Russia from 1816 to 1833. The melody is used for the American patriotic song " My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (also known as "America"). The melody continues to be used for the national anthem of Liechtenstein, " Oben am jungen Rhein", and the royal anthem of Norway, " Kongesangen".
In countries not part of the British Empire, the tune of "God Save the King" has provided the basis for various patriotic songs, though still generally connected with royal ceremony. The author of the tune is unknown and it may originate in plainchant, but an attribution to the composer John Bull has sometimes been made. " God Save the King" (alternatively " God Save the Queen" when the UK monarch is female) is the national anthem of the United Kingdom and the royal anthem of each of the British Crown Dependencies, one of two national anthems of New Zealand since 1977, and the royal anthem of most Commonwealth realms.
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