Swiss Psalm

Schweizerpsalm
Cantique suisse
Salmo svizzero
Psalm svizzer

English: Swiss Psalm
National anthem of   Switzerland
Lyrics	Leonhard Widmer (German) Charles Chatelanat (French) Camillo Valsangiacomo (Italian) Flurin Camathias (Romansch)
Music	Alberich Zwyssig, 1841
Adopted	1961 (de facto) 1981 (de jure)
Music sample
Swiss Psalm (instrumental)

The Swiss Psalm (German: Schweizerpsalm [ʃvaɪtsərˈpsalm], French: Cantique suisse [kɑ̃tik sɥis], Italian: Salmo svizzero [salˈmo zviˈtsero], Romansh: Psalm Svizzer [ˈpsalm ˈʒviːtser]) 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.^[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) 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 Société suisse d’utilité publique has organized a public competition and unofficial vote to change the national anthem.^[2]

History

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 Ô monts indépendants, Italian Ci chiami o patria, Romansh E clomas, tger paeis), composed in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743–1818), 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 (1808–1854), with lyrics by Leonhard Widmer (1809–1867).^[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-Frédéric 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 Société suisse d’utilité 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 was selected for a second on-line ballot between June and August. In September 2015, a televised final has selected one song. Finally, the Société suisse d’utilité publique will propose the winning anthem to the federal authorities.

A version of the winning anthem was also made by combining the four national languages of Switzerland:^[6]

Weisses Kreuz auf rotem Grund,
unser Zeichen für den Bund:
Freiheit, Unabhängigkeit, Frieden.
Soyons forts et solidaires,
que la liberté nous éclaire.
Per mintgin la libertad
e per tuts l'egualitad.
La bandiera svizzera,
simbolo di pace ed unità.

Lyrics

Owing to the fact that Switzerland has four national languages, the lyrics of the original German song were translated into the other three national languages: French, Italian and Romansh.

German (original)	French	Italian	Romansh	English translation
1. Trittst im Morgenrot daher, Seh ich dich im Strahlenmeer, Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher! Wenn der Alpen Firn sich rötet, Betet, freie Schweizer, betet, Eure fromme Seele ahnt, Eure fromme Seele ahnt, Gott im hehren Vaterland! Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland! 2. 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! 3. 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! 4. 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!	1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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 hauts des cieux. 4. Des grand monts vient le secours, Suisse! espère en Dieu toujours! Garde la foi des aïeux, vis comme eux! Sur l'autel de la partrie 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 hauts des cieux.	1. 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 Iddio lo vuol, cittadino Dio, si Dio lo vuol. 2. 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. 3. 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! 4. 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.	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. 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. 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. 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.	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 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 That God dwelleth in this land. That God dwelleth in this land. 4. 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; Yes, we feel and understand; That God dwelleth in this land. That God dwelleth in this land.

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 Zürich-Seefeld (Zürichhorn).

Notes and references

1. "Switzerland - Swiss Psalm". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23550915
3. (German) (English) (French) (Italian) How a church hymn tune became a national anthem article at Admin.ch retrieved on 21 June 2009.
4. Plus de 110 projets pour un nouvel hymne national
5. https://www.chymne.ch/fr/projet (page visited on 30 March 2015).
6. La proposition gagnante est connue !, /www.chymne.ch (page visited on 10 January 2016).

External links

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