Swiss Psalm
|
|
The "Swiss Psalm" is the national anthem of Switzerland.
Its history dates back to 1841, when the anthem was composed by Alberik Zwyssig (1808-1854). Since then it has been frequently sung on patriotic events. The Federal Council declined to accept the psalm as the official anthem numerous times, though. This was because they wanted the people to decide what they like as the national song.
Since 1961, it provisionally replaces "Rufst Du mein Vaterland" ("When you call, my fatherland", in French: "O Monts indépendants", in Italian: "Ci chiami o patria", in Romansh: "E clomas, tger paeis"), the anthem by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743-1818) on the melody of "God Save the Queen".
Finally on April 1, 1981 it was declared the official Swiss anthem.
| Contents |
|
|
Lyrics
The German text by Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867) has been translated to all Swiss official languages. The Romansh version in Ladinish is by Gion Antoni Bühler (1825-1897) and in Surselvish by Alfons Tuor (1871-1904).
German: Schweizerpsalm
By Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867).
1. verse
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
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
2. verse
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
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
3. verse
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such'ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
4. verse
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,
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland
French: Cantique suisse
By Charles Chatelanat (1833-1907).
1. verse
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
Les accents d'un coeur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un coeur pieux.
2. verse
Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le coeur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un coeur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un coeur pieux.
3. verse
Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre coeur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux:
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.
4. verse
Des grands monts vient le secours;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton coeur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.
Italian: Salmo svizzero
By Camillo Valsangiacomo (1898-1978).
1. verse
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,
cittadino Dio lo vuol.
2. verse
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,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.
3. verse
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
brilla, sol di verità
4. verse
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,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.
Rumantsch: psalm svizzer
1. verse
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. verse
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.
3. verse
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.
4. verse
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: Swiss Psalm
The English translations don't include the fourth verse for some unknown reason.
1. verse
When the morning skies grow red
And o'er us their radiance shed,
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light.
When the Alps glow bright with splendour,
Pray to God, to Him surrender,
For you feel and understand,
That He dwelleth in this land.
2. verse
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
That Thou dwellest in this land.
3. verse
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.
External links
- Swiss anthem text and MP3, modern version (http://www.military.ch/anthem.htm)
- MP3 and text of the traditional version (http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/schweiz/psalm/index.html)
- History of Swiss Psalm: How a church hymn became a national anthem (http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/schweiz/psalm/history.html)
als:Schweizerpsalm de:Schweizerpsalm es:Cantique Suisse fr:Cantique suisse it:Salmo Svizzero nl:Zwitserse Psalm ja:スイスの国歌 tr:İsviçre İlahisi