Advert: HSBC – Global Citizen
Music: Edward Elgar – Nimrod
iTunes download
Amazon download
HSBC present a thoroughly refreshing take on Britishness, entirely free from misguided jingoism, in this TV ad featuring Richard Ayoade, who points out some of the UK’s multitude of rich connections with the rest of the world, from Colombian coffee to French poodles, and concludes, “We live on a wonderful lump of land in the middle of the sea, but we are not an island, we are part of something far, far bigger.” The soundtrack is Edward Elgar’s Nimrod, from the Enigma Variations. Worcester-born Elgar was himself something of a global citizen, and was greatly influenced by continental composers. Nimrod has become one of Britain’s most popular pieces of classical music, and is regularly played at major occasions, including at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. It was originally composed, in 1898, as a musical sketch of Elgar’s friend, Augustus J Jaeger, who convinced his to continue composing during a period of depression. Nimrod is available to download, this version by the LSO conducted by Sir Colin Davis, on iTunes.
