National Anthem Day
… Our flag was still there …
In the US, March 3rd is known as National Anthem Day … a day for celebrating the patriotic music that is thought to represent the history, traditions and struggles of a nation, as recognized either officially by its government as the official national song … or by convention, through use by the people.
In Britain, for example, we have the National Anthem … God Save the Queen, but Scotland and Wales also have their songs … respectively, Scotland the Brave (or, more recently Flower of Scotland) and Land of our Fathers … and when it comes to sporting matches between the ‘Home Nations’ other songs are sometimes substituted.
It’s actually an American holiday … commemorating the decision of Congress in 1931 to make the Star Spangled Banner the country’s National Anthem.
It may seem surprising that the decision came so late … the United States is not the only nation to have adopted its National Anthem relatively recently … the Dutch Anthem – the Wilhelmus – may be the oldest in the world … but it was only officially adopted as such in 1932.
The first to be officially adopted as such was probably the Spanish anthem, the Marcha Real, in 1770 – which, incidentally, has no official lyrics.
The British Anthem, God Save the King, (as it was then, God Save the Queen as it is today), was probably, originally, a rebel song celebrating Charles Edward Stuart – only to be later adopted by his Hanoverian opponents as their anthem … but, as far as I am aware has never been officially adopted.
Ironically, there is a story that Joseph Haydn was so impressed with the melody that he was inspired to write the tune that became the tune for the German national anthem … officially adopted in 1922.
Here in Kyrgyzstan:
The National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic was adopted by a resolution of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan, (the Jogorku Kenesh), on 18 December 1992. The music was composed by Nasyr Davlesov and Kalyi Moldobasanov, and the words were written by Djamil Sadykov and Eshmambet Kuluev.
As in the case in several other countries where there is more than one official language, there are two official versions; one in Kyrgyz (the State Language) and the other in Russian, (the Official Language). Unfortunately, I don’t know enough Kyrgyz to tell if they are translations from one language into the other … a paraphrase – not exactly a translation … or totally different.
Interestingly, in some cases, the different versions may not simply be translations into the other language – the Canadian anthem, for example, has different lyrics in French and English; the Swiss has four versions, one for each of it’s four official languages; the New Zealand Anthem has an English verse and one in Maori – both different.
As far as I am aware, there is no official translation into English … but here’s here is an unofficial one which I asked someone to write for me a few years ago:
High mountains, valleys and fields
Are our native, holy land.
Our fathers lived amidst the Ala-Too,
Always saving their motherland.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
We are open for freedom for ages.
Friendship and unity are in our hearts.
the land of Kyrgyzstan, our native state,
Shining in the rays of consent.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
Dreams of the people came true,
And the flag of liberty is over us.
The heritage of our fathers we will
Pass to our sons for the benefit of people.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
This isn’t actually the only anthem adopted in the country … several of the cities, (Bishkek, Osh, Naryn …), have also adopted their own anthems which are sung with gusto on occasion.
Historically, there was also the anthem of the Khirghiz SSR – adopted in 1946 and replaced by the current version in 1992. The music was composed by a collaborative effort between three of the ‘giants’ of the period: Vladimir Vlasov, Abdylas Maldybaev and Vladimir Fere. The lyrics were also the result of a similar collaboration – between Kubanychbek Malikov, Tulgebay Sydykbekov, Mukanbet Toktobaev, and Aaly Tokombaev.
The Kyrgyz, longing for freedom rose,
October’s lights the Ala-Too did lit,
the great Russian people warmed us with friendship,
Lenin opened the road to happiness for all of us.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise up Lenin’s banner.
March forward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
Grown in the exploits of fight and labour
providing happiness to the Soviet people.
Leading our country to new victories,
the power of the people – Lenin’s party.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise up Lenin’s banner.
March forward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
The union of free nations is indestructible,
the friendship of our peoples is strong as steel,
selflessly we love our Fatherland,
we will build Communism for the centuries to come.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise Lenin’s banner.
March onward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
Hmmm … perhaps it is easy to see why it was felt necessary to replace it in 1992.
For the record: Some people think that The Star Spangled Banner was a Revolutionary song … but, in fact, was written by Francis Scott Key, who was a lawyer serving in the Georgetown Light Field Artillery, in 1814, (as the War of 1812 was coming to a close), and describes the defense of Fort McHenry, in Baltimore harbour, from a 25 hour long Naval bombardment from the British fleet standing off in the harbour … and the inspiring sight of the American flag, (the Star Spangled Banner), still flying over the fort as dawn broke – confirming the fact that it had not fallen into enemy hands.
It was published by his brother, and (ironically) set to a popular British song tune … and it soon became a popular patriotic song … being adopted by the US Navy in 1889, recognized by President Wilson in 1916 but only formally adopted as the National Anthem in 1931.
Other patriotic songs have served as anthems: Hail, Columbia (used for much of the 19th century); My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, (whose melody is, ironically, identical to the British national anthem, God Save the Queen) and America the Beautiful.
Bishkek