The Swiss Psalm or Swiss Canticle (German Schweizerpsalm; French Cantique suisse; Italian Salmo Svizzero (in Romansh Psalm svizzer) is the national anthem of Switzerland.
The history of the current Swiss national anthem dates back to 1841, when the anthem was composed by the Cistercian monk of Wettingen Abbey Alberik Zwyssig (1808-1854). Since then the anthem was frequently sung at national events. In 1961 it was provisionally admitted, until it was declared the official anthem of the Confederation on April 1, 1981.
History
Until the end of the 19th century Switzerland had no national anthem. The first patriotic anthem used in Switzerland was the Rufst du mein Vaterland (French: Ô Monts indépendants, Italian: Ci chiami o patria, in Romansh: E clomas, tger paeis), composed in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743-1818) to the tune of God Save the King and used until 1961.
For its part, the Swiss Psalm/Song was composed in 1841 by Alberik Zwyssig with the lyrics of Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867). From this date the anthem was frequently sung at patriotic events, in which men's choirs from all over the country added it to their repertoire with translations in Romandie and Italian Switzerland. The Federal Council declined on several occasions to declare this song as an official anthem, since the people had to choose the song they wanted as an anthem, since Rufst du mein Vaterland was used for political and military ceremonies.
The fact that the Swiss anthem (Rufst du mein Vaterland) was set to the tune of God Save the King, caused some awkward situations when the two hymns were "sung" at the same time. The current anthem of one hundred percent Swiss origin then provisionally replaced in 1961 the anthem Rufst du mein Vaterland.
After a three-year trial period with provisional status extended until 1965, the Swiss psalm/chant gained the status of national anthem for an unlimited period. The provisional status was abolished 10 years later, without excluding the possibility of a future change. In 1979, a call was launched to find the successor of the Swiss psalm/canticle. Despite numerous proposals, no composition gained as much support as Zwyssig's singing.
The Swiss Psalm/Song finally obtained its definitive status on April 1, 1981, thanks to the Federal Council, which found that it was a dignified and solemn Swiss chant. However, the popularity of the Swiss national anthem is not very high; It has been shown in various surveys that at least a third of the people questioned do not know the national anthem and that only a small percentage are able to sing it all by heart.
There have been two attempts to replace the anthem, the first in 1986 proposed by the National Alliance, which proposed the song Roulez les tambours by the French-speaking Henri-Frédéric Amiel; the second was proposed by the Pro CH 98 Foundation which proposed a song composed by the Argovian Christian Daniel Jakob. However, neither of them worked.
Letter
The original text was written in German by Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867). The versions in the other Swiss official languages were written later and are not translations, as the texts have different meanings. In addition, there are two versions in two Romansh languages: the first in Ladin (written by Gion Antoni Bühler (1825-1897)) and the second in Romansh, Sursilvan dialect (written by Alfons Tuor (1871-1904)).
Modification
From March 30, 2015, citizens of Switzerland will be able to choose a new national anthem for their country in an organized online vote.
Of a total of 208 initial proposals, six will be submitted to the online consultation to determine the best three by next May 15.
Then those three proposals will continue to be voted on online until September 6, before a gala on Swiss public television on September 12 in which viewers will once again be able to vote via phone and text messages.
The song with the most votes will be accepted by the Swiss Federal Government as the new national anthem of Switzerland.
The texts of the new anthem must be based on the preamble of the Swiss federal constitution, which highlights the country's core values such as democracy, diversity, freedom, peace and solidarity.
German: SchweizerpsalmLeonhard Widmer (1809-1867).
Tritst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh'ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
(bis)
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find'ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such'ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Trit die Sonne klar und millde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland. |
French: Cantique suisseCharles Chatelanat (1833-1907).
South nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce a glowing réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus jeweleux (bis)
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
Lorsqu'un doux beamn du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus jeweleux (bis)
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
The foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des cœurs pieux: (bis)
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.
Des grands monts vient le dryurs;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux (bis)
That Dieu bénira des cieux,
That Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.
|
Italian: Psalm svizzeroCamillo Valsangiacomo (1898-1978).
Quando bionda aurora il mattin c'indora
I'll take my t'adora re del ciel!
Quando l'alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t'atteggia;
in favor of the suol patrio,
Cittadino Dio lo vuol.
Se di stelle è un giubilo la celeste sfera
I turn you to sera or Signor!
Nella notte silenziosa
l'alma mia in Te riposa:
libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.
It became a veil m'asconde il tuo sky
pe tuo raggio anelo Dio d'amore!
Smoke or sole quei vapori
e mi rendi i tuoi favori:
Di my homeland deh! Pietà
glow, sun di verità
Quando rugge e strepita impetuoso il nembo
m'è ostel tuo grembo o Signor!
In te fido Onnipossente
deh, proteggi nostra gente;
Libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor. |
Romanche: psalm svizzerGion Antoni Bühler (1825-1897).
In l'aurora la damaun ta salida il carstgaun,
spiert etern dominatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'ils munts straglischan sura,
ura liber Svizzer, ura.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
Er la saira en splendur da las stailas en l'azur
tai chattain nus, creatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'il firmament sclerescha en nos cors
Crescha fidanza.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
Ti a nus es er preschent en il stgir dal firmament,
Ti inperscrutabel spiert, Tutpussent!
Tschiel e terra t'obedeschan
vents and secundeschan levels.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
Cur la furia da l'orcan fa tremblar il cor uman
Alur das ti a nus vigur, Tutpussent!
Ed in temporary sgarschaivel
stas ti franc a nus fidaivel.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
Il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern. |
Translation
Because each version is different and official at the same time, it is difficult to make an exact translation of the Swiss national anthem, since four different translations could be created (one for each language).
- Possible translation into German Spanish.
1.♪ verse You get in the morning,
I see you in the bright sea,
You, your Most High, Magnificent!
When the snowy Alps get red,
Pray, Free Swiss, pray!
Your godly soul presiding (bis)
God in the venerable homeland,
God, the Lord, in the venerable homeland.
| 2nd verse You come in the evening,
I find you in the army of stars,
You, your man's friend, loving!
In the clear spaces of the sky
I can dream happy and happy!
For the pious soul presiding
God in the venerable homeland,
God, the Lord, in the venerable homeland.
| 3.♪ verse You go in the fog,
I'm looking for you in the sea of clouds,
You, Your unscrutable, Eternal!
From the formation of grey air
Enter the light and soft sun,
And the presiding pious soul
God in the venerable homeland,
God, the Lord, in the venerable homeland.
| 4th verse Sailing in a wild storm,
You're our own guard and defense.
You, all-powerful ruler, Saviour!
In the stormy and gray night
Let's trust him!
Yes, the presiding pious soul
God in the venerable homeland,
God, the Lord, in the venerable homeland.
|
- Possible translation into French Spanish.
1.♪ verse On the mountains, when the sun
Announce a brilliant awakening,
And predict a better day return,
The beauty of the homeland
They speak to the eternal soul;
To heaven rise more joyful (bis)
The accents of a pious heart,
The touching accents of a pious heart.
| 2nd verse When a sweet afternoon lightning
Play still in the black forest,
The heart feels more happy near God.
Far from the vain noises of the plain,
The soul in peace is more serene,
To heaven rise more joyful (bis)
The accents of a pious heart,
The touching accents of a pious heart.
| 3.♪ verse When in the dark night
The lightning is loud,
Our heart still feels to the strong God;
In the storm and anguish
He is our strength;
Let us offer you godly hearts: (bis)
God will bless us from heaven,
God will bless us from above the heavens.
| 4th verse From the great mountains comes the help;
Switzerland, wait/believe always in God!
Keep the faith of the ancestors, Live like them!
On the altar of the homeland
Put your goods, your heart, your life!
It is the precious treasure (bis)
May God bless the heavens,
May God bless from the top of the heavens.
|
- Possible translation into Italian Spanish.