Swiss Psalm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Psalm

Swiss Psalm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Swiss Psalm (German: Schweizerpsalm

[vatsrpsalm], French: Cantique suisse [ktik
sis], Italian: Salmo svizzero [salmo zvitsero],
Romansh: Psalm Svizzer [psalm vitser]) is the
national anthem of Switzerland.

Schweizerpsalm
Cantique suisse
Salmo svizzero
Psalm svizzer
English: Swiss Psalm

It was composed in 1841, by Alberich Zwyssig

(18081854). 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 monts
indpendants; Italian Ci chiami o patria, Romansh
E clomas, tger paeis), the anthem by Johann
Rudolf Wyss (17431818) which was set to the
melody of God Save the Queen. On 1 April 1981,
the Swiss Psalm was declared the official Swiss
national anthem.
In 2014-2015, the Socit suisse dutilit publique
has organized a public competition and unofficial
vote to change the national anthem.[2]

National anthem of
Lyrics

Leonhard Widmer (German)

Charles Chatelanat (French)

Contents
1 History
1.1 First anthem
1.2 Second anthem
1.3 Idea of a new anthem
1.3.1 2014-2015 public
competition and
unofficial vote
2 Lyrics
3 Images
4 Notes and references
5 External links

Switzerland

Camillo Valsangiacomo (Italian)

Flurin Camathias (Romansch)
Music

Alberich Zwyssig, 1841

Adopted

1961 (de facto)

1981 (de jure)
Music sample
Swiss Psalm (instrumental)
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History
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First anthem
Until the end of the 19th century, there was no Swiss national anthem. The German-language
patriotic song Rufst du, mein Vaterland (French monts indpendants, Italian Ci chiami o patria,
Romansh E clomas, tger paeis), composed in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss (17431818), was the
first national anthem, used until 1961. The setting of the hymn to the British tune of God Save the
Queen led to confusing situations when both countries' anthems were played. Therefore it was
replaced with another tune in 1961.

Second anthem
The Swiss Psalm was composed in 1841 by Alberich Zwyssig (18081854), with lyrics by Leonhard
Widmer (18091867).[3] Since then it had been frequently suggested it be adopted as the official
anthem, but the Swiss Federal Government had refused several times, wishing to let the people
decide what they want to sing on political and military occasions.
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.

Idea of a new anthem

Proposed replacements for the psalm include:[4]
1. In 1986, Roulez tambours (Roll the drums) by Romand Henri-Frdric Amiel was proposed by
the Swiss National Alliance.
2. At the end of the 1990s, The Fondation Pro CH 98 equally tried to promote a new anthem
composed by the Argovian Christian Daniel Jakob.
2014-2015 public competition and unofficial vote
In 2014, the Socit suisse dutilit publique started a public competition for a new national
anthem.[5] 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 best three will be
selected for a second on-line ballot between June and August. In September, a televised final has
selected one song. Finally, the Socit suisse dutilit publique will propose the winning anthem to
the federal authorities.

Lyrics
Owing to the fact that Switzerland has four national languages, the lyrics of the original German

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song were translated into the other three national languages: French, Italian and Romansh.

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German (original)

French

Italian

Romansh

1. Trittst im Morgenrot
daher,
Seh' ich dich im
Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener,
Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpen Firn sich
rtet,
Betet, freie Schweizer,
betet,
Eure fromme Seele ahnt,
Eure fromme Seele ahnt,
Gott im hehren
Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn, im
hehren Vaterland!

1. Sur nos
monts, quand le
soleil
Annonce un
brillant rveil,
Et prdit d'un
plus beau jour
Le retour,
Les beauts de
la patrie
Parlent l'me
attendrie;
Au ciel montent
plus joyeux
Au ciel montent
plus joyeux
Les accents d'un
coeur pieux,
Les accents
mus d'un coeur
pieux.

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

1. 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.

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

2. 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.

2. Kommst im
Abendglhn daher,
Find' ich dich im
Sternenheer,
Dich, du
Menschenfreundlicher,
Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten
Rumen
Kann ich froh und selig
trumen;
Denn die fromme Seele
ahnt
Denn die fromme Seele
ahnt
Gott im hehren
Vaterland!
Gott, den Herrn, im
hehren Vaterland!

2. Lorsqu'un
doux rayon du
soir
Joue encore
dans le bois
noir,
Le coeur se sent
plus heureux
prs de Dieu
Loin des vain
bruits de la
plaine
L'me en paix
est plus sereine;
Au ciel montent
3. Ziehst im Nebelflor
plus joyeux,
daher,
Au ciel montent
Such' ich dich im
plus joyeux,
Wolkenmeer,
Les accents d'un
Dich, du
coeur pieux,
Unergrndlicher, Ewiger! Les accents
Aus dem grauen
mus d'un coeur
Luftgebilde
pieux.

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3. Se di nubi un
velo
m'asconde il tuo
cielo
pel tuo raggio

3. Ti a nus es er
preschent
en il stgir dal
firmament,

English
translation
1. When the
morning skies
grow red
And o'er their
radiance shed,
Thou, O Lord,
appeareth in their
light.
When the Alps
glow bright with
splendour,
Pray, free Swiss,
Pray,
For you feel and
understand,
For you feel and
understand,
That he dwelleth
in this land.
That he dwelleth
in this land.
2. In the sunset
Thou art nigh
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
For we feel and
understand
That Thou
dwellest in this
land.
That Thou
dwellest in this
land.
3. When dark

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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!

anelo Dio
3. Lorsque dans d'amore!
la sombre nuit Fuga o sole quei
La foudre clate vapori
avec bruit,
e mi rendi i tuoi
Notre coeur
favori:
pressent encore di mia patria
le Dieu fort.
deh! Piet
Dans l'orage et di mia patria
la dtresse,
deh! Piet
4. Fhrst im wilden Sturm Il est notre
brilla, o sol di
daher,
forteresse.
verit,
Bist du selbst uns Hort
Offrons-Lui de brilla sol, o sol
und Wehr,
coeurs pieux
di verit!
Du, allmchtig
Offrons-Lui de
Waltender, Rettender!
coeurs pieux
4. Quando
In Gewitternacht und
Dieu nous
rugge e strepita
Grauen
bnira des
impetuoso il
Lat uns kindlich ihm
cieux,
nembo
vertrauen!
Dieu nous
m' ostel tuo
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt bnira du hauts grembo o
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt des cieux.
Signor!
Gott im hehren Vaterland!
In te fido
Gott, den Herrn, im
4. Des grand
Onnipossente
hehren Vaterland!
monts vient le deh, proteggi
secours,
nostra gente;
Suisse! espre Libert,
en Dieu
concordia,
toujours!
amor,
Garde la foi des Libert,
aeux, vis
concordia,
comme eux!
amor,
Sur l'autel de la all'Elvezia serba
partrie
ognor
Met tes biens, all'Elvezia serba
ton coeurs, ta
ognor.
vie!
C'est le trsor
prcieux
C'est le trsor
prcieux
Que Dieu nous
bnira des
cieux,
Que Dieu nous
bnira du hauts
des cieux.

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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.

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
Then we'll feel and
understand
4. Cur la furia da That God dwelleth
l'orcan
in this land.
fa tremblar il cor That God dwelleth
uman
in this land.
alur das ti a nus
vigur,
4. Towards us in
Tutpussent!
the wild storm
Ed en temporal coming,
sgarschaivel
You yourself give
stas ti franc a nus us resistance and
fidaivel.
stronghold,
Mia olma senta You, almighty
ferm,
ruling, rescuing!
Mia olma senta During horror and
ferm,
nights of
Dieu en tschiel, thunderstorms
Il bab etern.
Let us childlike
Dieu en tschiel, il trust Him!
bab etern.
Yes, we feel and
understand;
Yes, we feel and
understand;
That God dwelleth
in this land.
That God dwelleth
in this land.

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Images

Music with the French

version of the Swiss
Psalm (Cantique
suisse).

Bust of the composer

Alberich Zwyssig in
Bauen.

The Swiss Psalm's poet

Leonhard Widmer.

Fountain memorial for

Alberich Zwyssig and
Leonhard Widmer in
Zrich-Seefeld
(Zrichhorn).

Notes and references

1. "Switzerland - Swiss Psalm".
NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe23550915
3. (German) (English) (French) (Italian) How a
church hymn tune became a national anthem
(http://www.admin.ch/org/polit/00055/00064
/index.html?lang=en&unterseite=yes) article at
Admin.ch retrieved on 21 June 2009.

4. Plus de 110 projets pour un nouvel hymne

national (http://www.24heures.ch/suisse/Plusde-110-projets-pour-un-nouvel-hymnenational--/story/14882468)
5. https://www.chymne.ch/fr/projet (page visited
on 30 March 2015).

External links
Landeshymne in German (http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch
/textes/d/D10103.php), French (http://www.hlsdhs-dss.ch/textes/f/F10103.php) and Italian
(http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/i/I10103.php) in the
online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

Wikisource has original

text related to this article:
Schweizerpsalm

Official page with text and sound in the four national languages (http://www.admin.ch
/org/polit/00055/index.html?lang=en)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swiss_Psalm&oldid=692169875"

Categories: National anthems European anthems Swiss music National symbols of Switzerland
Swiss patriotic songs

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