Swiss Psalm

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates The Swiss Psalm (Template:Langx ;Template:Efn Template:Langx ; Template:Langx ; Template:Langx ) is the national anthem of Switzerland.

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. 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 "" ("When You Call, My Country"; French ""; Italian "", Romansh ""), 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 Template:Ill organized a public competition and unofficial vote to change the lyrics of the national anthem.

History

The German-language patriotic song "" (French "", Italian "", Romansh ""), 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.

File:Leonhard Widmer.JPG

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

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French sheet music

File:Swiss Psalm Italian sheet music.jpg

Italian sheet music

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 Template:Ill (1809–1867).

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.

German original	French lyrics	Italian lyrics	Romansh lyrics

English translations

German lyrics	French lyrics	Italian lyrics	Romansh lyrics
I You come along in the dawn, I see you in the sea of rays, You, you exalted, glorious one! When the Alpine snow turns red, Pray, free Swiss, pray, Your pious soul suspects... Your pious soul suspects... God in the noble fatherland! God the Lord in the noble fatherland! II You come along in the evening glow, I find you in the starry army, You, you philanthropist, lover! In the bright spaces of heaven Can I dream happily and happily; For the pious soul suspects For the pious soul suspects God in the noble fatherland! God the Lord in the noble fatherland! III You move along in the mist, I'm looking for you in the sea of clouds, You, you unfathomable, eternal one! From the gray air structure The sun breaks clear and mild, And the pious soul suspects And the pious soul suspects God in the noble fatherland! God the Lord in the noble fatherland! IV You drive along in a wild storm, You yourself are our refuge and defense, You, all-powerful ruler, savior! In thunderstorm night and horror Let us childlike trust in him! Yes, the pious soul suspects Yes, the pious soul suspects God in the noble fatherland! God the Lord in the noble fatherland!	I On our mountains, when the sun Announces a bright awakening, And predicted the return of a prettier day, The homeland's beauties Speak to the tender soul; To heaven, rise more joyfully, To heaven, rise more joyfully, The accents of a pious heart, The moved accents of a pious heart. II When a gente evening ray of sunshine Still plays in the black wood, The heart feels happier with God, Far from the vain sounds of the plain A soul at peace is more serene, To heaven, rise more joyfully, To heaven, rise more joyfully, The accents of a pious heart, The moved accents of a pious heart. III When in the dark night Lightning erupts with noise, Our heart still feels God's strength Through storm and distress, He is our fortress. Let us offer him our pious hearts, Let us offer him our pious hearts, God will bless us from the heavens, God will bless us from the top of the heavens. IV From the great mountains comes help, Switzerland! Always trust in God! Keep your ancestors' faith, live like they did On the homeland's altar, Place your belongings, your heart, your life! This is the precious treasure, This is the precious treasure, God will bless us from the heavens, God will bless us from the top of the heavens.	I When the blond dawn gilds the morning my soul adores you, king of heaven! When the Alps are already red then you set yourself to pray; in favor of the native land, in favor of the native land, God wants you to be a citizen, God wants you to be a citizen, yes God wants you to be. II If the stars are a jubilation the celestial sphere I find you again in the evening, O Lord! In the silent night my soul rests in you: freedom, harmony, love, freedom, harmony, love, for Helvetia it always keeps, for Helvetia it always keeps. III If a veil of clouds hides your sky from me for your ray I yearn, God of love! Flee, O sun, those vapors and give me back your favors: of my country, oh! Have mercy on my country, oh! Mercy shines, oh sun of truth, shines, oh sun of truth! IV When the storm roars and thunders the impetuous storm is my shelter, oh Lord! In you, faithful Almighty ah, protect our people; Freedom, harmony, love, Freedom, harmony, love, for Helvetia always for Helvetia always.	I In the dawn of the morning the earthly being rises, eternal spirit, ruler, Almighty! When the mountains shine above, now free Swiss, now. My soul feels strong, My soul feels strong, God in heaven, the eternal Father. God in heaven, the eternal Father. II Also in the evening in splendor of the stars in the azure we find you, Creator, Almighty! When the firmament brightens in our hearts faith grows. My soul feels strong, My soul feels strong, God in heaven, the eternal Father. God in heaven, the eternal Father. III You are also present to us in the darkness of the firmament, you unfathomable spirit, Almighty! Heaven and earth obey you, winds and snowflakes follow you. My soul feels strong, My soul feels strong, God in heaven, the eternal Father. God in heaven, the eternal Father. IV When the fury of the hurricane makes the human heart tremble then give us strength, Almighty! And in the dreadful storm you stay true to us trustworthy. My soul feels strong, My soul feels strong, God in heaven, the eternal Father. God in heaven, the eternal Father.

IPA transcriptions

German IPATemplate:Efn	French IPATemplate:Efn	Italian IPATemplate:Efn

Proposals for a new anthem or new lyrics

• 1986: "" ("Roll the drums!") by Henri-Frédéric Amiel was proposed by the Swiss National Alliance.
• Late 1990s: the Fondation Pro CH 98 tried to promote a new anthem composed by the Argovian Christian Daniel Jakob.
• 2014: the Template:Ill started a public competition to find new lyrics for the national anthem. 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. 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: [1].

External links

• Landeshymne in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.