Swiss Psalm

The "Swiss Psalm" (German: Schweizerpsalm [ˈʃvaɪtsərˌpsalm] / "Trittst im Morgenrot daher..."; French: Cantique suisse, [kɑ̃tik sɥis]; Italian: Salmo svizzero, [ˈsalmo ˈzvittsero]; Romansh: Psalm Svizzer, [ˈ(p)salm ˈʒviːtser]) is the national anthem of Switzerland.

Schweizerpsalm
Trittst im Morgenrot daher...
Cantique suisse
Salmo svizzero
Psalm svizzer
English: Swiss Psalm
National anthem of Switzerland
LyricsLeonhard Widmer (German)
Charles Chatelanat (French)
Camillo Valsangiacomo (Italian)
Flurin Camathias (Romansch), 1840
MusicAlberich Zwyssig, 1835, 1841
Adopted1961 (de facto)
1981 (de jure)
Preceded byRufst du, mein Vaterland
Audio sample
Official vocal
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It was composed in 1841, by Alberich Zwyssig (1808–1854). Since then, it has been frequently sung at patriotic events. The Federal Council declined, however, on numerous occasions to accept the psalm as the official anthem.[1] This was because the council wanted the people to express their say on what they wanted as a national anthem. From 1961 to 1981, it provisionally replaced "Rufst du, mein Vaterland" ("When You Call, My Country"; French "Ô monts indépendants"; Italian "Ci chiami o patria", Romansh "E clomas, tger paeis"), the anthem by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743–1818) that was set to the melody of "God Save the King". On 1 April 1981, the Swiss Psalm was declared the official Swiss national anthem.

In 2014, the Schweizerische Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft organized a public competition and unofficial vote to change the lyrics of the national anthem.[2]

History

The German-language patriotic song "Rufst du, mein Vaterland" (French "Ô monts indépendants", Italian "Ci chiami o patria", Romansh "E clomas, tger paeis"), composed in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743–1818), was used as the de facto national anthem from about 1850. The setting of the hymn to the British tune of "God Save the King" led to confusing situations when both countries' anthems were played. Therefore, it was replaced with another tune in 1961.

Leonhard Widmer, whose 1840 poem formed the basis of the anthem

The Swiss Psalm was composed in 1841 by Alberich Zwyssig (1808–1854). Zwyssig used a tune he had composed in 1835 and slightly altered the words of a poem written in 1840 by Leonhard Widmer (1809–1867).[3]

In the second half of the 19th century, the song became popular and was frequently sung at patriotic celebrations. Between 1894 and 1953, there were repeated suggestions for it to be adopted as official national anthem. In this, it was in competition with "Rufst du, mein Vaterland", a patriotic song that was widely seen as the de facto national anthem but was never given official status.

The Swiss Psalm temporarily became the national anthem in 1961. After a trial period of three years, the Swiss tune was adopted indefinitely in 1965. The statute could not be challenged until ten years later but did not totally exclude the possibility of an ultimate change. A competition was set up in 1979 to search for a successor to the anthem. Despite many submissions, none of the others seemed to express the Swiss sentiment. The Swiss anthem finally got its definitive statutory status in April 1981, the Federal Council maintaining that it was purely a Swiss song suitably dignified and solemn. The popularity of the song has not been established. At least, it has been shown with several vox pops taken that many people do not know it at all, and only a small percentage can recite it all.

Lyrics

Because Switzerland has four national languages, the lyrics of the original German song were adapted into the other three national languages: French, Italian and Romansh. The anthem was also translated into English.

German Original[4] French Lyrics[5]

I
Trittst 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...
Eure fromme Seele ahnt...
Gott im hehren Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn im hehren Vaterland!

II
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
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland!

III
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Bricht die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland!

IV
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
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland!

I
Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

II
Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu
Loin des vain bruits de la plaine
L'âme en paix est plus sereine;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux,
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

III
Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort.
Dans l'orage et la détresse,
Il est notre forteresse.
Offrons-lui de cœurs pieux
Offrons-lui de cœurs pieux
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.

IV
Des grand monts vient le secours,
Suisse! espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Met tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.

Italian Lyrics[6] Romansh Lyrics[7]

I
Quando bionda aurora
il mattin c'indora
l'alma mia t'adora re del ciel!
Quando l'alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t'atteggia;
in favor del patrio suol,
in favor del patrio suol,
cittadino Dio lo vuol,
cittadino Dio, si Dio lo vuol.

II
Se di stelle è un giubilo
la celeste sfera
Te ritrovo a sera o Signor!
Nella notte silenziosa
l'alma mia in Te riposa:
libertà, concordia, amor,
libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

III
Se di nubi un velo
m'asconde il tuo cielo
pel tuo raggio anelo Dio d'amore!
Fuga o sole quei vapori
e mi rendi i tuoi favori:
di mia patria deh! Pietà
di mia patria deh! Pietà
brilla, o sol di verità,
brilla sol, o sol di verità!

IV
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,
Libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

I
En 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.

II
Er la saira en splendur
da las stailas en l'azur
tai chattain nus, creatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'il firmament sclerescha
en noss cors fidanza crescha.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm,
Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

III
Ti a nus es er preschent
en il stgir dal firmament,
ti inperscrutabel spiert, Tutpussent!
Tschiel e terra t'obedeschan
vents e nivels secundeschan.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm,
Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

IV
Cur la furia da l'orcan
fa tremblar il cor uman
alur das ti a nus vigur, Tutpussent!
Ed en temporal 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.

English Translation[8]

I
When the morning skies grow red
And over us their radiance shed
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light!
When the alps glow bright with splendor,
Pray to God, to Him surrender!
For you feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land!
That God, the Lord, dwelleth in this land!

II
In the sunset Thou art night
And beyond the starry sky
Thou, O loving father, ever near!
When to Heaven we are departing
Joy and bliss Thou'lt be imparting!
For we feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land!
That God, the Lord, dwelleth in this land!

III
When dark clouds enshroud the hills
And gray mist the valley fills
Yet Thou art not hidden from thy sons!
Pierce the gloom in which we cower
With Thy sunshine's cleansing power
Then we'll feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land!
That God, the Lord, dwelleth in this land!

IV
Towards us in the wild storm coming,
You yourself give us resistance and stronghold,
You, almighty ruling, rescuing!
During horror and nights of thunderstorms
Let us childlike trust Him!
Yes, we feel and understand,
That God dwelleth in this land!
That God, the Lord, dwelleth in this land!

Proposals for a new anthem or new lyrics
  • 1986: "Roulez tambours!" ("Roll the drums!") by Henri-Frédéric Amiel was proposed by the Swiss National Alliance.[9]
  • Late 1990s: the Fondation Pro CH 98 tried to promote a new anthem composed by the Argovian Christian Daniel Jakob.[9]
  • 2014: the Société suisse d'utilité publique started a public competition to find new lyrics for the national anthem.[10] The instruction was to take inspiration from the preamble of the Federal Constitution of Switzerland. The jury received 208 proposals; it selected six of them and translated them in the four national languages of Switzerland. In March 2015, the six selected proposals were released on-line (with videos in four languages) and opened to public vote (until May 2015). The top three vote-getters were selected for a second on-line ballot between June and August. In September 2015, a televised final selected one set of lyrics. Finally, the Société suisse d'utilité publique will propose the winning lyrics to the federal authorities. As soon as the new hymn text is known enough, the Swiss Parliament and the electorate will be asked to determine it. As of 2017, the new lyrics have not been officially adopted. A version of the winning lyrics was also made by combining the four national languages of Switzerland.[10] As 500,000 Swiss abroad and residents in Switzerland are native English speakers, the new hymn text has been translated not only into the four official Swiss languages but also into English. More information and the scores of the hymn can be found at: .

Notes

    References
    1. "Switzerland – Swiss Psalm". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
    2. "Swiss to launch national anthem competition in 2014". BBC News. 2 August 2013.
    3. (in German, English, French, and Italian) How a church hymn tune became a national anthem Archived 5 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine article at Admin.ch retrieved on 21 June 2009.
    4. Schweizer Landeshymne (Schweizerpsalm), admin.ch
    5. Hymne national suisse (Cantique suisse), admin.ch
    6. Inno nazionale svizzero (Salmo svizzero), admin.ch
    7. Imni naziunal svizzer (psalm svizzer), admin.ch
    8. Anthem of Switzerland (Swiss Psalm) - English Translation, about.ch
    9. swissinfo.ch, S. W. I.; Corporation, a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting (21 July 2005). "L'hymne suisse entre émotion et exaspération". SWI swissinfo.ch (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2020.
    10. "Über 200 Persönlichkeiten wünschen neuen Hymnentext", sgg-ssup.ch, accessed 7 July 2018 (in German)
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