Wikipedia:Featured sound candidates/United States Navy Band - Het Wilhelmus

United States Navy Band - Het Wilhelmus

The Dutch national anthem, Het Wilhelmus, played by the United States Navy Band. The anthem itself dates back to 1568 where it was sung on official occasions and important events such as the Siege of Haarlem in 1573, the melody was first written down in 1574. The current melody was recorded by Dutch composer Adriaen Valerius in his "Nederlantsche Gedenck-clanck" in 1626. The history of the lyrics is unknown though a French translation appeared around 1582. There are legends surrounding performances of the anthem, such as in the torture of Balthasar Gérard (William of Orange's assassin) where the guards sought to overpower Gérard's screams boiling pig fat was poured over him. To which Gérard allegedly responded, "Sing! Dutch sinners! Sing! But know that soon I shall be sung of!"

One of the rare occasions where the US Navy Band played a piece intended for a brass instrument, or at least that's what I'm getting from the article, "Trumpets played the Wilhelmus when Prince Maurits visited Breda, and again when he was received in state in Amsterdam in May 1618" ... "the church bells are said to have played the Wilhelmus continuously." Nothing much is said about the original instruments that played Wilhelmus except that, unless we can find a better organ and choir to sing it :P

Nominate and support. —James ^{(Talk • Contribs)} • 12:20pm • 02:20, 20 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Support If I were Dutch, I might be able to give you a better opinion, but this seems fine to me.--TonyTheTiger (T/C/BIO/WP:CHICAGO/WP:FOUR) 07:20, 24 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I left a note at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Netherlands asking for their opinion. —James ^{(Talk • Contribs)} • 12:28pm • 02:28, 1 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Support Sounds fine to me. Major Bloodnok (talk) 21:16, 3 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted United States Navy Band - Het Wilhelmus.ogg --Guerillero | My Talk 01:06, 8 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]