Importance of Blake

William and Catherine lived all their lives in London apart from a three year period when they were offered work in a small village in Felpham on the South Coast of England.

It was in the cottage at Felpham that the Blakes lived at the height of the War between England and France (1800-1803). With the rest of Europe conquered or having made peace deals, Britain, alone, stood against the might of Napoleon.

The French First Consul and his 200,000 strong troupes were stationed at Boulogne waiting for the next tide to carry them over and to invade England and, like the goal of the French Revolution, make the United Kingdom a Republic.

Blake’s words were also chosen to represent the Spirit of Britain in celebrating our country’s rich history and culture at the opening of the 2012 Olympics screened around the world to 1 billion people.

Musical Influences

The universal themes of Blake’s work inspired the 20^th century giants of classical music, internationally renowned composers of opera, ballets and symphonies, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Sir Benjamin Britten, Sir Malcolm Sargent, and Sir Edward Elgar.

Note: In 1922, Elgar composed an orchestral version of Blake’s’ Jerusalem’, and this was the version King George V said he preferred to “God Save the King.”

Popular music classics have been influenced, inspired by, or directly ‘borrowed’ from Blake’s work range from artist such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Jim Morrison and the Doors, Patti Smith, Kris Kristofferson, Nick Cave, to Bono of U2, Emerson Lake and Palmer and heavy metal Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson.

Bono references Blake inspiring his work in an interview for BBC Desert Island Discs:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018njm

“This very morning, I walked to Piccadilly and there's a Christopher Wren building there, a church and you can just sit there.” (St James's Church in the heart of London, not far from Piccadilly Circus. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the church was consecrated in 1684.)

“But on my way in, I saw this is where William Blake was baptised, and I saw on the door written there on the plaque:

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand”

The words are from the poem Auguries of Innocence by the poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake.

“This must have been in the back of Bob Dylan’s mind [when he wrote] Every Grain of Sand,” a song from 1981, and another of Bono’s choices.”

Note: Two U2 album titles, Songs of Innocence, and the follow-up Songs of Experience, are taken from William Blake's collection of poems Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

National Influence

The preface of ‘Milton A Poem’ gives us the words to England’s unofficial National Anthem - ‘Jerusalem’.

Blake’s words, revered by the then Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges, (100 years later), had inspired Bridges to ask choral composer Sir Hubert Parry to set Blake’s words to music to boost morale during WWI.

Now, millions of people sing ‘Jerusalem, at sporting events in England. The choral piece is the official hymn, played before test matches, of the England national cricket team and also performed before rugby league's Challenge Cup Final and the Super League Grand Final. In addition, 'Jerusalem' is the official anthem of the British Women’s Institute and sung by the National Union of Suffrage Societies and is also sung at the Last Night of the Proms.

It’s important to highlight that his message and mission, to tell those of us ‘in futurity’, about England’s important role in elevating society, reveal the magnitude of his contribution to humanity which no other poet or artist has done before or since. Blake transcends all and reaches out to all.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Unveiling of Blake’s grave marker, Bunhill Fields Cemetery, Islington.

In his book, “William Blake Now – Why He Matters More Than Ever”, John Higgs, English Writer, novelist, journalist, and cultural historian records why this was an important event:

“It was not ticketed and there was no charge to attend. It was barely advertised. Who would predict in this modern age how many people would assemble to witness the reveal of a new grave marker for a long dead Georgian poet? Who would have expected the arrival of such huge crowds.

Looking around at the people who felt compelled to attend I am struck by how hard it is to categorise they are. They seem to come from every sector of society. An elderly gentleman in a Barbour jacket and flat cap standing next to a teenage girl in Metallica T Shirt. There is a lot of white hair, but there is pink hair also.

The crowd, equally male and female with a greater mix of ethnicities than I expected. Small children run around the edges while room is made for frail and elderly who have made the effort to come here. Famous faces are scattered throughout the crowd.

I think I see known comedian Diane Morgan and actress Zoe Wannamaker. I have never been part of such a diverse crowd. There is something unreal about seeing this collection of people together. Tribes don’t mix like this anymore. And yet, there they all are.

Blake’s ability to reach across society like this is extremely unusual. Those who speak to the crowd ahead of the stone unveiling include an academic, a theologian, a Rector of St James Church, a punk poet, a comedian, and a multimillionaire metal vocalist.

There are marketing executives and artists who would bottle Blake’s secret, if only they could understand it. Businesses and artists invest a huge amount of effort in trying but failing to attract everyone.”

William Blake does! The response was similar online via a live Facebook broadcast. Comments from New York to South Africa following the event live, all expressed a deep desire to be there on that auspicious day.” (Extract page 3 and 4, John Higgs book, “William Blake Now – Why He Matters More Than Ever”)

HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II RECITES BLAKE

In a special documentary for the Jubilee Queen Elizabeth looks back over her life showing previously unseen personal and family footage. In a rare moment of personal sharing, we learn of her philosophy on life, best expressed through the work of William Blake which she recites:

‘Joy & Woe are woven fine

A Clothing for the soul divine

Under every grief & pine

Runs a joy with silken twine

Elizabeth – The Unseen Queen, BBC – CUE 42.48mins - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0017xv0