National Anthems.

[hectorberlioz]

Welcome to Entmoot Mari! And btw, I did not know the spanish would figure into the Dutch National Anthem. Any explanation for that?

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

we have had mentioned God Save the Queen, Rule Brittania and Land of Hope and Glory, but the UK has two more unofficial anthems, both by Handel IIRC

Zadok the Priest is performed at the coronation of the monarch, and IIRC at the state opening of parliament, but don't quote me on that,
and definitely by Handel, the Music for the Royal Fireworks is performed at the Royal Fireworks every year

Hey! Howcome I didn't know you guys made the Royal Fireworks Music a yearly thing?...though I suppose it would make sense, on a Fireworks day

[sun-star]

I didn't know that either I don't think it's on Bonfire Night though - maybe in the summer?

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Welcome to Entmoot Mari! And btw, I did not know the spanish would figure into the Dutch National Anthem. Any explanation for that?

The Netherlands and Belgium have long been under Spanish rule. There was the usual war and Spain had to let us go.

Hi Mari, welcome to the 'moot.

Je bent tot nu toe de eerste noorderbuur die ik hier ben tegengekomen.

[Mari]

@ Eärniel: aangenaam kennis te maken
@ hectorberlioz: it's not only the long rule of Spain in the Netherlands, but William of Orange and Karel V (King of Spain and other countries) were very good friends actually. But when Karel V gave his throne to his son Filip II, things changed in the Netherlands. Filip II was very anti-lutherian. He sought to create a large Roman-Catholic empire by means of death-penalties, inquisition and other severe actions to make his subjects became faithful Catholics.
William who was raised in both Catholic and Lutherian tradition opposed these actions. Also apparently the two didn't get along personally.
Eventually this lead to war between the Netherlands and Spain, which was won by the Netherlands.
Actually according to Wikipedia the Wilhelmus is the oldest anthem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmus for more information.

And thank you for the warm welcome

[BeardofPants]

This was an interesting thread - wonder if we have any new countries to contribute?

[Mari]

Oh! My first post! How nostalgic
Must have been in a VERY patriotic mood to actually post something on a board with strangers

[Curufin]

Well, I'm originally American, but I suppose I could post Ireland's national anthem. First, in the original Irish Gaelic:

Amhrán na bhFiann
Seo dhibh a cháirde duan Óglaigh,
Cathréimeach briomhar ceolmhar,
�r dtinte cnámh go buacach táid,
'S an spéir go min réaltogach
Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thÃ*ocht do'n ló
Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoiche ar seol:
Seo libh canaÃ*dh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá:

Sinne Fianna Fáil
A tá fé gheall ag Éirinn,
buion dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn,
Fé mhóid bheith saor.
Sean tÃ*r ár sinsir feasta
NÃ* fhagfar fé'n tiorán ná fé'n tráil
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaÃ*dh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Cois bánta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe,
Ba bhuachach ár sinsir romhainn,
Ag lámhach go tréan fé'n sár-bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dhúchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir,
'S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad
Seo libh, canaÃ*dh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá

A bhuÃ*on nách fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall,
Sin breacadh lae na saoirse,
Ta scéimhle 's scanradh i gcroÃ*the namhad,
Roimh ranna laochra ár dtire.
�r dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois,
Sin luisne ghlé san spéir anoir,
'S an bÃ*obha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:
Seo libh, canaÃ*dh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá

And then in English:

The Soldier's Song
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song,
With cheering rousing chorus,
As round our blazing fires we throng,
The starry heavens o'er us;
Impatient for the coming fight,
And as we wait the morning's light,
Here in the silence of the night,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Chorus:

Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free,
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

In valley green, on towering crag,
Our fathers fought before us,
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us.
We're children of a fighting race,
That never yet has known disgrace,
And as we march, the foe to face,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Chorus

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long watched day is breaking;
The serried ranks of Inisfail
Shall set the Tyrant quaking.
Our camp fires now are burning low;
See in the east a silv'ry glow,
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,
So chant a soldier's song.

Chorus

[katya]

I think I'll follow Curufin's example and post Japan's anthem, since no one has yet and because I really like it.

君が代 (Japanese)
君が代は
千代に八千代に
さざれ石の
巌となりて
苔の生すまで

Kimi ga Yo (Romaji)
Kimi ga yo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazare ishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu made

(English)
May my Lord's reign,
Continue for a thousand,
Eight thousand generations,
Until pebbles
Grow into boulders,
Covered in moss.

And, a link to Gackt singing it! "Kimi ga Yo" is one of the shortest national anthems of all, but Gackt manages to make it twice as long as it usually is. I think it's a very pretty melody anyway. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_RubqWmgxjA&feature=related

[BeardofPants]

That's really pretty.

[Nurvingiel]

The Japanese anthem is great! Short and sweet. It seems to have the structure of a tanka. (Is it one?)

Canada's anthem, of course exists in both official languages. And unlike the French on the back of cereal boxes, it's a real, stand-alone anthem, not just awkwardly translated from English.

So. Canada's anthem. I am proud to be able to sing this in both official languages. I think even people who don't speak French (or English) should be able to cobble together the anthem in the other language.

A bit dull (Canadians tend to sing this more lustily, especially at hockey games) but here's the mp3 for the English verion. Et en français.

Our government has a lovely page on the anthem's history.

The lyrics:

English

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide, O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.


French

O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!

Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


Translation of the French lyrics to English

O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.

As your arm can wield the sword,
It can also carry the cross.

Your history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.

And your valour, steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.


I'm actually quite fond of the American national anthem. The music is great. But I don't know all the lyrics. I also want to learn the Swedish national anthem (I think Jonathan already posted it).

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

I'm american so I'll post this!

Star spangeld banner-

Oh, say can you see?
Bye the dawns early light?
What so proudly he held
At the twilight's last gleaming.
Or the ram parts we watched
were so galiently streaming?
And the rockets red glare!
The bombs busting in air!
Gave proof through the night,
That our flag was still there.
Oh say does that star spangeld banner yet wave?
O're the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[katya]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

The Japanese anthem is great! Short and sweet. It seems to have the structure of a tanka. (Is it one?)

Hm, yes? I'm not sure all the differences between the different kinds of poetry but I think so. It did start out as just a poem, and later a westerner was enlisted to compose music for it. But, no one liked it very much so a few years later (in 1880) a Japanese man composed the current melody.

[Mari]

It was written in the Heiwa period originally, so I don't think they had tanka's yet.
It is in the classic 5 7 5 7 7 structure though. I know the name, but I can't remember it right now. I'll check my books sometime (I'm translating poems from this period in class right now)

[GrayMouser]

Anthem of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
"San Min Chu-i" (Sanmin Zhuyi) means "Three Principles of the People", the founding Principles of the ROC- Liberty, Democracy and People's Livelihood.

SānmÃ*n Zhǔyì, wúdǎng suǒ zōng;
Yǐ jiÃ*n MÃ*nguó, yǐ jìn dÃ* tóng.
Zī'ěr duō shì, wéi mÃ*n qiánfēng;
Sù yè fěi xiè, zhǔyì shì cóng.
Shǐ qÃ*n shǐ yǒng, bì xìn bì zhōng;
Yì xīn yì dé, guÃ*nchè shǐzhōng.

San Min Chu-i,
Our aim shall be:
To found, a free land,
World peace, be our stand.
Lead on, comrades,
Vanguards ye are.
Hold fast your aim,
By sun and star.
Be earnest and brave,
Your country to save,
One heart, one soul,
One mind, one goal.

Of course, you'll never hear it played, even if Taiwan wins gold at the Olympics.