Oben am jungen Rhein

Oben am jungen Rhein
English: Up above the young Rhine

"Junger Rhein", view from Triesenberg in Liechtenstein

National anthem of  Liechtenstein

Lyrics Jakob Josef Jauch, 1850
Music Melody to "God Save the Queen"
Adopted 1963 (1920)

Music sample
Oben am jungen Rhein (instrumental)

Oben am jungen Rhein ("Up above the young Rhine") has been the national anthem of Liechtenstein since 1920. It shares the same melody as the United Kingdom's national anthem, "God Save the Queen", the only difference being an additional refrain at the end of the song.

History

The original lyrics were written in 1850 by Swiss pastor Jakob Josef Jauch (1802–1859),[1] at a time when the Principality of Liechtenstein, which is considered the last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, was a member of the German Confederation. About a decade earlier, French claims to the left bank of the Rhine (Rhine Crisis of 1840) had triggered a series of German "Rhine songs" of which Die Wacht am Rhein is the most famous. Oben am jungen Rhein was a number of early national anthems with the same tune as God Save the Queen, but the only one that continues to use the tune.[2][3] In 1963, the anthem was shortened, and references to Germany were removed.[4]

Lyrics

German English

1. Oben am jungen Rhein
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
Dies liebe Heimatland,
Das teure Vaterland
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n.

1. Up above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Was chosen for us
By God's wise hand.

2. Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am jungen Rhein,
Glücklich und treu.
Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei.

2. Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Fortunate and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through bonds of brotherly love
United and free!

Until 1963 the anthem's text was:

German English

1. Oben am deutschen Rhein
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
Dies liebe Heimatland
Im deutschen Vaterland
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n.

1. Up above the German Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland
Within the German fatherland
Was chosen for us
By God's wise hand.

2. Wo einst St. Lucien
Frieden nach Rhätien
Hineingebracht.
Dort an dem Grenzenstein
Und längs dem jungen Rhein
Steht furchtlos Liechtenstein
Auf Deutschlands Wacht.

2. Where once St Lucius
Brought peace to
Raetia,
There by the border stone
And along the young Rhine
Liechtenstein stands fearless
On guard for Germany.

3. Lieblich zur Sommerzeit
Auf hoher Alpen Weid
Schwebt Himmelsruh'.
Wo frei die Gämse springt,
Kühn sich der Adler schwingt,
Der Senn das Ave singt
Der Heimat zu.

3. Lovely in the summer
On the high Alps' meadows
Floats heavenly quietude.
Where the chamois leaps freely,
The eagle soars boldly,
The herdsman sings the Ave
For the native land.

4. Von grünen Felsenhöh'n
Freundlich ist es zu seh'n
Mit einem Blick:
Wie des Rheins Silberband
Säumet das schöne Land,
Ein kleines Vaterland,
Vom stillen Glück.

4. From green rocky heights
It is lovely to look at
With one gaze:
How the Rhine's silver band
Hems the beautiful land
A small fatherland
Of silent bliss.

5. Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am deutschen Rhein,
Glücklich und treu.
Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei.

5. Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the German Rhine,
Fortunate and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through bonds of brotherly love
United and free!

See also

Other songs set to the same music

References

  1. ↑ "Up above the young Rhine (Oben am jungen Rhein)". Cantorian. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Pound, Jeremy (16 February 2016). "Five intriguing national anthems". ClassicalMusic.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "How many national anthems are plagiarised?". BBC News. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Liechtenstein". nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.