Bournemouth Anthem marks 200th anniversary of town (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth Anthem marks 200th anniversary of town

12:00pm Friday 1st January 2010

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THIS year is the 200th anniversary of Bournemouth. But do you know the words to the Bournemouth Anthem yet?

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is due to give a world premiere to ‘Our Bournemouth’ on January 23 at the Pavilion.

The music was inspired by the winning entry to a public competition to find the best poem about Bournemouth.

Douglas Eyre’s poem was judged the best and commissioned composer Paul Rissman transformed the words into an anthem.

The Bournemouth Anthem

Our Bournemouth Through heath and pines in hidden chimes, The landscape yet unfounded Its sandy beach and rolling waves, Fine vision here abounded.

Our founders dreamed their dreams Of how this paradise would grow, Into a graceful watering place Where health and beauty flow.

Two centuries gone and it has grown With folks from many places Who came here, loved it, chose to stay, Round beach and fine green spaces.

And still in this great bustling town, With salty air and scent of pine.

Young and old still dream their dreams, Our Bournemouth – yours and mine.

“It is done. All the parts are finished and waiting to be sent to the orchestra. I was immediately drawn to the poem because I could hear how it would function as a piece of music,” says Paul Rissman.

For Douglas Eyre who has lived in the area since the 1950’s, his poem was a labour of love.

“I’ve heard the music and it’s very traditional. I was going away on holiday and on the plane home, I scribbled the poem together. I was thrilled to bits to win. It’s special for me, as I love Bournemouth,” says Douglas Eyre.

The former leader of Bournemouth Council and Mayor of Bournemouth took local history into consideration when writing his winning poem.

“I’ve been involved in local government but I looked at the bigger picture and the overwhelming beauty of the area. 200 years is not very old by British standards, yet Bournemouth has seen a very dynamic growth.”

“I also tried to encourage a community feel to the poem and inspire civic pride. I hope the bicentenary celebrations will be a catalyst to achieving that in Bournemouth,” says Douglas.

The poem didn’t present many problems for the BSO/JPMorgan composer Paul Rissman.

“It wasn’t a huge challenge at all, it was really pleasurable because the words felt so musical.

“It’s three minutes long and we’ve gone with the title Our Bournemouth, taken from the words by Douglas Eyre,” says Paul.

The full orchestra will give the world premiere of Our Bournemouth at the Pavilion next month, which will be conducted by principal conductor Kirill Karabits.

The full choral version will also be performed at Meyrick Park this August as part of the Bournemouth 200 concert. Various versions of the song are to be given to community groups and schools, which can then be performed from February onwards.

“The BSO asked me to write a very flexible anthem that could be performed in lots of different orchestrations without a choir. There’s a very rousing expression of the words in the melody and it’s like a mini-fanfare or overture for Bournemouth,” adds Paul Rissman.

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