THE year was 1961, the month was September, and an announcement would lead to Jamaicans standing to attention whenever a certain song was played.

Today, the National Anthem — Jamaica, Land We Love — is played at public gatherings, at official ceremonies and for many it is something to be proud of.

Ironically though, it was not the first choice of the commission charged to arrive at a national anthem back in the day. The song selected to be the anthem for the country was Jamaicans Proud We Stand submitted by Captain Ted Wade, who did his own arrangement.

“After it was accepted the committee realised he was an Englishman; it was then rejected and a replacement was sought for it,” explained Major Joe Williams, retired director of music for the Jamaica Defence Force/Jamaica Military band.

Williams had the honour of being the first person to arrange the National Anthem for a band and conducting it in public at Lyndhurst Methodist Church in Kingston.

With Wade’s song being rejected, choosing the anthem became a “hurried” process and saw the involvement of several talented persons.

After the competition was announced it saw many popular Jamaican figures submitting entries. Among the over 100 submissions were entries from realtor Leslie Alexander, Robert Lightbourne and Evon Blake — father of filmmaker, journalist Barbara Blake-Hannah.

Lightbourne, whose music was arranged by John Plant, a British bandmaster who at the time was stationed with a British regiment at Up Park Camp, sent in his entry without words. The words were composed by Dr Hugh Sherlock (Boys’ Town founder).

There was just one problem with this arrangement, “Sherlock’s words could not ‘fit’ Lightbourne’s music,” reminisced Major Williams.

Williams explained that it was not uncommon for this problem to occur especially when musicians and lyrics did their work separate from each other.

“In music, unless you have lyricist and musician together, you might not have that perfect fit,” Major Williams explained.

Trying to fit in with the lyricist’s goal for the anthem was no easy task as Sherlock had stated that it was his desire for the anthem to be more “a prayer” than a catchy tune.

“It was meant to be a humble Christian prayer for Jamaica. The writer of the words wanted it that way,” recalled Major Williams.

The late Emile Mapletoft Poulle was then asked to help with the project. Using four bars of Lightbourne’s music and Sherlock’s words he composed a new tune. Poulle’s wife changed a few of the words that were done for the piano.

Again, another musical genius had to be called in as the song could not be presented to the national committee in the House of Parliament in its present form.

The piano score was then given to Major Williams, who at the time was with the Jamaica Military band, for musical arrangement.

On completion of the arrangement it was taken to the band for recording with the next stop being presenting it to the committee.

Jamaica, Land We love was played for the committee which wholeheartedly embraced it. The rest, as they say, is now history where the national gem is concerned.

But for Major Williams, he lives for the day when fellow Jamaicans will have more respect for the anthem. He feels the Government can do more to help push the respect level up.

“I don’t think there is enough coming from the Government insisting that we pay attention to the national symbols of Jamaica. There should be a sense of personal pride,” commented the major, adding that during his time with the Jamaica Military band he has played over 25 different national anthems, “but none as our National Anthem. It should instil a sense of pride, it’s a part of you.”