Swiss Psalm

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

Schweizerpsalm
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)
Audio sample
"Swiss Psalm" (instrumental)
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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) 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 2013, the Société suisse d'utilité publique 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 de facto national anthem from about 1850. 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.

Leonhard Widmer

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 which was widely seen as 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 translated into the other three national languages: French, Italian and Romansh. The English version here under is a translation from the German version (the French one is slightly different).

German (original)[4] French[5] Italian[6] Romansh[7] English translation

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 hauts 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 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.

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.

I
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.

II
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.

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
Then we'll feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land.
That God 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;
Yes, we feel and understand;
That God dwelleth in this land.
That God dwelleth in this land.

Proposals for a new anthem
  • 1986: "Roulez tambours!" ("Roll the drums!") by Henri-Frédéric Amiel was proposed by the Swiss National Alliance.[8]
  • Late 1990s: the Fondation Pro CH 98 tried to promote a new anthem composed by the Argovian Christian Daniel Jakob.[8]
  • 2013: the Société suisse d'utilité publique started a public competition to find new lyrics for the national anthem.[9] 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.[9]
German, French, Romansh, Italian[10] English translation

Weisses Kreuz auf rotem Grund,
unser Zeichen für den Bund:
Freiheit, Unabhängigkeit, Frieden.

Ouvrons notre coeur à l’équité
et respectons nos diversités.

Per mintgin la libertad
e per tuts la gistadad.

La bandiera svizzera,
segno della nostra libertà.

White cross on a shining red,
woven by a common thread:
freedom, independence, equality.

Open to the world in solidarity,
Swiss are one in peace and diversity.

Free are we who freely speak,
strong as we protect the weak.

White cross on a shining red,
sign of Switzerland, the path we tread.

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:

References
  1. "Switzerland – Swiss Psalm". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23550915
  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. swissinfo.ch, S. W. I.; Corporation, a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting. "L'hymne suisse entre émotion et exaspération". SWI swissinfo.ch (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  9. "Über 200 Persönlichkeiten wünschen neuen Hymnentext", sgg-ssup.ch, accessed 7 July 2018 (in German)
  10. Nationalhymne Schweiz in allen vier Landessprachen on YouTube, Schweizer Jugendchor
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