Page 182 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

502 Records of Bahrain
:
2-1

'flic Kinging of School and National Songs. I do not know whether
any o( the folk-songs of Bahrain havo ovor been set to music and printed,
or wbclber tbero is any existing song, of a patriotic nature, well known
nil over llm Island, which would bo suitable as a nationul anthem for
ltabrain. I( there is such a song, it would bo a good thing to havo it
properly set to music and introduced into tbc schools at onco: if not,
perhaps somcono could be induced to write a national antbeui, chiefly for
school mo. In any case, I suggest that your Highness should absolutely
forbid tbc use of the Syrian National Anthem in the schools of Bahraiu.

The singing of folk-songs is a poworful inlluonco towards patriotism,
but, quite apart from this, it would bo an oxccllont thing if tho muuy
folk-songs of Bahrain, aomo of whioh can bo hoard sung ou tho poarling-
bouts, could bo collected by somo competent person, sot to tho correct
music, and printed. Tboy could thus bo permanently preserved, boforo it
is too lute, and such a collection would bo of tho utmost nutional, historical,
mid ethnological vnluo. I wonder whether your Highness would consider
asking the Education Department to try to appoint a small committee of
knowledgeable persons to oxnmiuo tbc wbolo question of the traditional
songs of Bahrain, both from tho national point of viow and from that of
the need for a 60Ug-book in tho schools.