GStQ? I think it's a lot older than Britten -- it dates back to the Hanoverian takeover iirc.
I think the reason it got taken up such a lot elsewhere was that it was pretty much the first purpose-written national anthem; and lesser other nations who liked the idea at first thought they should just apply their own words to this tune, rather than also getting their own tune.
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Date: 2010-10-06 03:15 pm (UTC)I think the reason it got taken up such a lot elsewhere was that it was pretty much the first purpose-written national anthem; and
lesserother nations who liked the idea at first thought they should just apply their own words to this tune, rather than also getting their own tune.