The most beautiful National Anthem!

I've come up with this matériel which gathers both, WWII and music, in a very interesting combination —which I intend to expand later.

It's about all Russian national anthems, because, I believe, is the nation with the richest and perhaps, best tradition in this respect in the whole world. Even if "God Save the King" (unknown author), "Deutschland über Alles" (Haydn), "The Star Spangled Banner" (Stafford Smith) or "La Marseillaise" (Rouget de Lisle) are very beautiful, the Soviet —now Russian— national anthem (Alexándrov) is simply beyond limits. The first time I listened to it I couldn't believe something could be so patriotic and beautiful at the same time. If you don't believe, see the links below.
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• First, let's start by saying that the very first Russian national anthem that can be found is "Mólitva russkikh" (The Prayer of Russians) of 1815, a beautiful prayer with the music of "God Save the King" with lyrics by Vasilí Zhúkovski.</font>
• Then, in 1833 Russia adopted her first oficial national anthem, "Bozhe, Zharya khrani" (God Save The Czar), after a competition. The composer was violinist Prince Alexéi Fiódorovich Lvov, and the lyrics were by court poet and friend of Alexander Pushkin, Vasilí Zhúkovski.
  
  "Bozhe Zharya khrani!
  Sil'ní, derzhavní,
  Zharstvui na slavu,
  na slavu nam!
  Zharstvui na strah vragam,
  
  Zhar' pravoslavni.
  Bozhe Zharya, Zharya khrani!
  Zharya khrani!
  
  (God save the noble Tsar!
  Long may he live, in power,
  In happiness,
  In peace to reign!
  Dread of his enemies,
  
  Faith's sure defender,
  God save the Tsar!
  God save the Tsar!)"</font>
• During the February Revolution in 1917, "Otrehchemsia ot starogo mira" (the 1875 Russian lyrics to "La Marseillaise" [by Mireille Mathieu] by P. Lavrov) was adopted by the Provisional Government.
  
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• After the October Revolution, the most famous socialist song was adopted by the Soviet Union as national anthem until replaced in 1944. Originally, it was written by Eugène Pottier in 1871 and the music by Pierre Degeyter in 1888 (the song was originally intended to be sung on the tune of La Marseillaise). It was translated into many languages.
  
  "Arise ye workers from your slumbers
  Arise ye prisoners of want
  For reason in revolt now thunders
  And at last ends the age of cant.
  Away with all your superstitions
  Servile masses arise, arise
  We'll change henceforth the old tradition
  And spurn the dust to win the prize.
  
  Chorus
  
  So comrades, come rally
  And the last fight let us face
  The Internationale
  unites the human race.
  
  No more deluded by reaction
  On tyrants only we'll make war
  The soldiers too will take strike action
  They'll break ranks and fight no more
  And if those cannibals keep trying
  To sacrifice us to their pride
  They soon shall hear the bullets flying
  We'll shoot the generals on our own side.
  
  No saviour from on high delivers
  No faith have we in prince or peer
  Our own right hand the chains must shiver
  Chains of hatred, greed and fear
  E'er the thieves will out with their booty
  And give to all a happier lot.
  Each at the forge must do their duty
  And we'll strike while the iron is hot."
  
  "The International" by choir and orchestra of Bolshoi Theatre, conducted by G. Rozhdiéstvienski (1977) [The most beautiful recording, definately]
  
  "The International" first verse in Russian, followed by the US anthem; by Metropolitan Opera Chorus & National Broadcasting Company Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Arturo Toscanini (New York, 1941)] [Bizarre, but incredibly well-performed by one of the best conductors of the XX Century]
  
  "The International" by Berlin Regimental Band Wachregiment Berlin, conducted by Guido Grosch (recorded by German Radio Company, 1936). [This is the only official recording of Soviet anthem made in Nazi Germany, for the 1936 Olympics (in which Soviet Union did not participate), which shows that Nazism screwed everything. It's an awful version!]
  
  "The International" by Billy Bragg [In English]</font>
• In 1944, Stalin, having realised since the beginning of The Great Patriotic War that nationalism rather than international communism had a deeper propaganda effect, ordered the creation of a national anthem for the Soviet Union alone. The result was the most beautiful national anthem in the world, "Gimn Soviétskogo Soyuza (Soviet Union Anthem), written by Serguéi Mikhálkov and Garold El-Registán and the music by Alexander Alexándrov, released on May 1st 1944.
  
  "Soyuz nerushimiy respublik svobodnykh
  
  Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'!
  Da zdravstvuet sozdanniy voley narodov
  Yediniy, moguchiy Sovetskiy Soyuz!
  
  Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
  Druzhbi narodov nadyozhniy oplot,
  Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye
  Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
  
  Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobodi,
  
  I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril,
  Nas vyrastil Stalin -- na vernost' narodi,
  Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil!
  
  Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
  Schast'ya narodov nadyozhniy oplot,
  Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye
  Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
  
  My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yax,
  
  Zaxvatchikov podlyx s dorogi smetëm!
  My v bitvax reshaem sud'bu pokolenij,
  My k slave Otchiznu svoyu povedëm!
  
  Slavsya Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
  Slavy narodov nadyozhniy oplot,
  Znamya sovetskoe, znamya narodnoye
  Pust' ot pobedy k pobede vedyot!
  
  (United forever in friendship and labor,
  Our mighty republics will ever endure.
  The great Soviet Union will live through the ages.
  The dream of a people their fortress secure.
  
  CHORUS:
  Long live our Soviet Motherland, built by the people's mighty hand.
  Long live our People, united and free.
  Strong in our friendship tried by fire. Long may our crimson flag inspire,
  Shining in glory for all men to see.
  
  Through days dark and stormy where Great Lenin led us
  Our eyes saw the bright sun of freedom above
  and Stalin our Leader with faith in the People,
  Inspired us to build up the land that we love.
  
  CHORUS
  
  We fought for the future, destroyed the invader,
  and brought to our homeland the Laurels of Fame.
  Our glory will live in the memory of nations
  and all generations will honour her name.
  
  CHORUS")
  
  by Red Army choir and orchestra, 194? [With very Russian rythm]
  
  by Patriarchal choir directed by Víktor Komárov, accompanied by organ (performed on concert to 500 year anniversary of autocephaly of Russian Orthodox Church on July 16, 1948 in the Great hall of Moscow Conservatory) [Just beautiful! Very religious]
  
  June 24th 1945, Victory Parade in Moscow [Excellent! With gusn firing, cries of patriotism, you can actually feel the joy of the victorious people!]
  
  in English by bass Paul Robeson [Magnificently sung. Incredibly, it sounds very, very nice in English]</font>[*]In the 1950s the anthem was played without lyrics because they were politically unacceptable, due to the Stalin-phraising verses.
  
  only music [Nice, but it lacks the special touch of the singing…]</font>[*]In 1977 a new version of the "Soviet Union Anthem" was released with different lyrics by Serguéi Mikhálkov:
  
  
  
  
  "Soy'ooz neroosh'imi resp'ooblik svob'odnikh 
  Splot'ila nav'eki vel'ikaia Rus 
  Da zdr'avstvooyet sozdanni voley nar'odov 
  Yed'ini mog'oochi Sov'etski Soy'ooz 
  
  Sl'avsa ot'echestvo n'ashe svob'odnoye 
  Dr'oojbi nar'odov nady'ojni opl'ot 
  P'artia L'enina, - s'ila narodnaya 
  Nas k torjestv'oo kommun'izma vedy'ot 
  
  Skvoz g'odi siy'alo nam s'ontse svob'oodi 
  I L'enin vel'iki nam put ozar'il 
  Na pr'avoye d'elo on p'odnal nar'odi 
  na tr'ood i na p'odvigi nas vdokhnov'il 
  
  Sl'avsa ot'echestvo n'ashe svob'odnoye 
  Dr'oojbi nar'odov nady'ojni opl'ot 
  P'artia L'enina, - s'ila narodnaya 
  Nas k torjestv'oo kommun'izma vedy'ot 
  
  V pob'ede bessm'ertnih idey kommoon'izma 
  Mi v'idim grad'oosheye n'ashey strani 
  I kr'asnomoo zn'ameni sl'avnoj otch'izni 
  Mi b'oodem vsegd'a bezav'etno verni 
  
  Sl'avsa ot'echestvo n'ashe svob'odnoye 
  Dr'oojbi nar'odov nady'ojni opl'ot 
  P'artia L'enina, - s'ila narodnaya 
  Nas k torjestv'oo kommun'izma vedy'ot
  
  (Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics,
  Great Russia has welded forever to stand.
  Created in struggle by will of the people,
  United and mighty, our Soviet land!
  
  Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
  Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
  O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,
  To Communism's triumph lead us on!
  
  Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have
  cheered us,
  Along the new path where great Lenin did lead.
  To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples,
  Inspired them to labor and valorous deed.
  [Or, the old way:
  Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,
  Inspire us to labor and valorous deed!]
  
  Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
  Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
  O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,
  To Communism's triumph lead us on!
  
  In the vict'ry of Communism's deathless ideal,
  We see the future of our dear land.
  And to her fluttering scarlet banner,
  Selflessly true we always shall stand!)"
  
  by Bolshoi Theatre's choir and orchestra [Excellent version!]
  
  by Red Army's choir and orchestra [Greatest version! There's nothing as patriotic as this recording]
  
  </font>[*]In 1991 the "Patriotic Song" was adopted by the new Russian Federation, with music by one of the greatest Russian composers of all times: Mikhaíl Ivánovich Glinka (part of his opera "Live for the Tsar".
  
  by New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, 1998. [Beautiful music, great recording!]
  
  In 2000 there was a competition to include lyrics in the anthem. Here's the winning version:
  
  "Slavsya, Slavsya, rodina Rossiya!
  Skvoz vyeka i grozi ti proshla!
  I siyayet solntsye nad toboi
  I sudba tvoya svetla!
  
  
  Nad starinnim moskovskim Kremlem
  Vetsya znamya s dvuglavim orlom
  I zvutchat svyashyenniye slova:
  Slavsya, Rus - Otchizna moya!
  
  (Viva La Russia!
  
  Be glorious, be glorious, native land- Russia!
  You passed through the centuries and the thunderstorms
  And shines the sun above you I fate your it is bright.
  Above the ancient Moscow Kremlin is twisted the banner with the two-headed eagle they sound the sacred words:
  Be glorious, Russia - Motherland!)"
  
  vocal version [Very, very well-sung!]</font>[*]In the year 2000, Vladímir Putin re-instored the old anthem with complete new lyrics by Serguéi Mikhálkov.
  
  "Himn of the Russian Federation
  
  Rossiya — svyashchennaya nasha derzhava,
  Rossiya — lyubimaya nasha strana.
  Moguchaya volya, velikaya slava —
  Tvoe dostoyan’e na vse vremena!
  
  Pripev:
  Slav’sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoe,
  Bratskikh narodov soyuz vekovoy,
  Predkami dannaya mudrost’ narodnaya!
  Slav’sya, strana! My gordimsya toboy!
  
  Ot yuzhnykh morey do polyarnogo kraya
  Raskinulis’ nashi lesa i polya.
  Odna ty na svete! Odna ty takaya —
  Khranimaya Bogom rodnaya zemlya!
  
  Pripev
  
  Shirokiy prostor dlya mechty i dlya zhizni.
  Gryadushchie nam otkryvayut goda.
  Nam silu daet nasha vernost’ Otchizne.
  Tak bylo, tak est’ i tak budet vsegda!
  
  Pripev
  
  (Russia — our holy country,
  Russia — our beloved country.
  A mighty will, a great glory —
  Are your inheritance for all times!
  
  Refrain:
  Be glorious, our free Fatherland!
  Eternal union of fraternal peoples,
  Common wisdom given by our forebears,
  Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!
  
  From the southern seas to the polar region
  spread our forests and fields.
  You are unique in the world, inimitable,
  Native land protected by God!
  
  Refrain
  
  Wide spaces for dreams and for living
  Are opened for us by the coming years
  Faithfulness to our country gives us strength
  Thus it was, so it is and always will be!
  
  Refrain)"
  
  by Marinski Theatre Child Choir, St. Petersburg [Very nice!]
  
  by Bloshoi Theatre's Choir and Orchestra, Moscow [AMAZING! The most beautiful version of the most beautiful anthem ever!]</font>

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Now, take your time to download those .mp3s. You'll enjoy it! You have my word!

 

Thanx alot Friedrich!

And congrats on passing the 6,000 line!!

 

Spassibo, tovaritch! I'm *very* impressed!

[edited for *very* ]

[ 15. October 2004, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: Za Rodina ]

 

Fried, when are you going to empty your private message inbox?

 

Dunno about the Ruskies having the most beautiful national anthem.

Im quite fond of the Welsh and German anthems

 

OK, so let us hear them...........

 

Of course tastes are a personal matter, what is beautiful to me may be hideous to you and that's what makes the world go round, besides money... The German anthem I know, of course, but I have no idea about the Welsh one. Gi'us a link!

M!

 

Though technically speaking, Wales not being a nation and all (but a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), it doesn't have a national anthem.

 

Perhaps some Welsh who emigrated to Australia will sing Waltzing Matilda?

 

Haven't ever listened to the Welsh anthem… I'll have to look for it.

And yes, beauty in music is relative, as all beauty is.

However, one thing is beauty and another one is quality. Music is not only about making relative beautiful sounds; it involves mathematics and techniques.

A representative example of this is Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", incredibly beautiful music, but it is a very mediocre opera!

A national anthem is a musical artistic structure and it is meant for a very special purpose: it must reflect the entire qualities of a nation. And there are many national anthems which do not make any justice to the country they represent and there are very mediocre anthems, which have no effect upon the one who listens to it.

Italy is a good example. Italy's National Anthem lacks greatness, martiality, melody and doesn't inspire anything. It could fit as a song for a soccer match, not for representing a nation. And it's a pity, since any of Verdi's chorus would be a thousand times better than that.

Austria is in a similar case. Mozart showed nothing of his genious in that composition, which makes one think of a mountain very boring country. I don't think Austria is that way.

Israel and Ireland's national anthems are very special, because they lack the structure of what a national anthem should be, but they both perfectly represent what the Israeli and Irish peoples are and stand for, not to mention that they both include folkish rythms and melodies.

That's why I claim the Russian anthem to be the best, because it is a quality word from the first note and verse till the last: it serves its purpose to perfection, not only to the Russians, but to everyone who listens to it despite not understanding the lyrics. When you listen to it you recognise Russian folkish tunes, martial and patriotic rythms, almost mystical. Also, you get the idea of a very big nation made of many brave peoples.

It is the Russian musical nationalist tradition what I am trying to make you see: "The Prayer of the Russians" and "God Save the Tsar" both represent the cuasi-religious aura of the Romanov empire. The "International" represents the harmony and beauty of an utophy. The "Soviet Anthem" represents the martiality, determination and courage of peoples who suffered and won the greatest conflict in History. The "Patriotic Song" speaks about a people with a lot of History, which has endured a lot of things but stills remains. And the new anthem perfectly speaks of a great nation with a great past and a great future.

I think no other nation has such a musical-national tradition as Russia. I think she has the most beautiful national anthem —you can think otherwise, of course— but it is without a doubt, the one with the richest tradition and the best-made of all.

 

By the way, I've cleared my message box. You can write me now.

 

Just the response I'd expect from a limey

 

Found it: Welsh anthem

"Geiriau Cymraeg
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

Cytgan:

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.

Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.

Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad.
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.

(The land of my fathers, the land of my choice,
The land in which poets and minstrels rejoice;
The land whose stern warriors were true to the core,
While bleeding for freedom of yore.

Chorus:

Wales! Wales! fav'rite land of Wales!
While sea her wall, may naught befall
To mar the old language of Wales.

Old mountainous Cambria, the Eden of bards,
Each hill and each valley excite my regards;
To the ears of her patriots how charming still seems
The music that flows in her streams.

My country tho' crushed by a hostile array,
The language of Cambria lives on to this day;
The muse has eluded the traitors' foul knives,
The harp of my country survives.)"

Nice anthem, but not anything beyond the ordinary.

 

You're right fried, its not anything spectacular. Like most anthems, it sounds best to those it applies to

 

Like most anthems, yes. However, a good anthem one is that which appeals even to those it doesn't apply, like "Deutschland über Alles", "Star Spangled Banner" (when played properly, of course) or "La Marseillaise".

 

C.V.M, sorry, just stating a fact mate

Actually Freddy, I have to disagree, how can you claim the Russian anthem is the most beautiful after you have mentioned 'La Marseillaise'? It is one of the most rousing, uplifting, moving and generally beautiful anthems in history. It is also the only French song I can sing almost from memory.

 

Actually, it depends a lot on who plays/sings/performs it… Melodically and rythmically speaking, the Marseillaise is simply astonishing: it includes indeed the passions of the French spirit and romantic patriotism, but I think the martial part: "Aux armes, citoyens!" is not as martial as the lyrics intend it to be. It is the most exciting, vigourous and enthusiastic part, but it lacks something, in my view. I find the Russian anthem more complete.

But again, it's a matter of opinion.

 

Ahh, but I am not sure it is intended to be martial in the regular military sense is it? I mean it is saying 'citizens take up your arms' (not a literal translation but perhapse a more poetic way of expressing it in English), it isn't talking about a glorious army but a force of revolutionaries.

 

Just the response I'd expect from a limey </font>[/QUOTE]Yes? And where, pray, can I find the national anthem of South Carolina?

 

Just the response I'd expect from a limey </font>[/QUOTE]Yes? And where, pray, can I find the national anthem of South Carolina? </font>[/QUOTE]Here it is actually

Call on thy children of the hill,
Wake swamp and river, coast and rill,
Rouse all thy strength and all thy skill,
Carolina! Carolina!

Hold up the glories of thy dead;
Say how thy elder children bled,
And point to Eutaw's battle-bed,
Carolina! Carolina!

Thy skirts indeed the foe may part,
Thy robe be pierced with sword and dart,
They shall not touch thy noble heart,
Carolina! Carolina!

Throw thy bold banner to the breeze!
Front with thy ranks the threatening seas
Like thine own proud armorial trees,
Carolina! Carolina!

Girt with such wills to do and bear,
Assured in right, and mailed in prayer,
Thou wilt not bow thee to despair,
Carolina! Carolina!

Midi"]http://javascript:var%20w%20=window.open'http://www.freiheit-zur-verantwortung.de/Images/hymnesouthcarolina1.mid','','HEIGHT=100,WIDTH=300,RESIZABLE=yes,SCROLLBARS=yes']Midi File[/url]