The current anthem, referred to as the ‘Swiss Psalm’, was first performed in 1841. The lyrics were written by the Zurich poet Leonard Widmer, while the melody is the work of Albert Zwyssig, a monk and composer from the canton of Uri.
In 1961, the Federal Council decided to provisionally adopt the Swiss Psalm as the national anthem to be played at military and diplomatic occasions. It only finally became the official national anthem in 1981.
In 2014, the Swiss Public Welfare Society (SGG/SSUP), a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to foster national belonging and highlight social issues, launched a competition to find a brand-new anthem.
In 2015, the jury pronounced as winner Zurich-born Werner Widmer, whose song ‘Schweizerstrophe’ (or ‘Swiss stanza’) combines all four national languages.
However, the Swiss Public Welfare Society will only submit the song to the Federal Council for approval as the new Swiss national anthem once it has broad-based support among the public. Four years down the road and only Bern, Switzerland's political centre, is singing the new version.
A version of the winning lyrics was also made by combining the four national languages of Switzerland. Following is the English translation:
Virgin cross on reddened ground,
Sign of an old union sound!
Freedom, independence, peace, guide us all.
To equality let our hearts open,
In diversity they've awoken.
For all and one liberty,
And one and all equity,
Beloved Swiss standard,
Lead our union ever forward.
So, since the new lyrics have not been officially adopted this means that it is up to Switzerland's 2222 municipalities to decide whether they wish to impose the new anthem text asking its inhabitants to sing it on August 1st. We all now which text we will be humming to.
The original manuscript of the Swiss national anthem
No comments:
Post a Comment