National Anthem of Russia

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The Hymn of the Russian Federation (Государственный гимн Российской Федерации, Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the national anthem of Russia. The music of the anthem, composed by Alexander Alexandrov, was used for the Soviet anthem but with revised lyrics written by Sergey Mikhalkov. It was adopted in late 2000 by President Vladimir Putin and replaced the former anthem, The Patriotic Song.

Before and after the adoption of the anthem, liberal groups raised concerns that the re-adoption of the Soviet anthem was returning Russia to the Soviet era. The revised lyrics removed mention of Lenin's ideas and the "unbreakable union" of the Soviet state, instead speaking of a country that is vast in distance and in resources that will be entrusted to future generations.

History (until 1944)

In 1833, Zhukovsky was asked again to write lyrics to a musical composition by Alexis Lvov called The Russian People's Prayer. It was well received by Nicholas I who chose the song, known more commonly as God Save the Tsar, to be the next anthem. The reasons for its selection was that the song sounded very close to a religious hymn and its musical style is closely similar to the other anthems used by European monarchs. God Save the Tsar was used until the 1917 October Revolution, when the Russian monarchy was overthrown.RussiaInfo [Guide to Russia - National Anthem]. Retrieved Apr. 03, 2006. The tune is in several American hymnals with the words "God the Omnipotent! King who ordainest!/Thunder thy clarion, lightning thy throne! (etc.)"

Upon the removal of the Tsar and his family, two songs were used by the Bolsheviks as unofficial hymns from 1917 until 1918. The first song, Worker’s Marseillaise, was a modification of the French anthem La Marseillaise by Pyotr Lavrov. Created in 1875, its use as anthem was shortlived. Eugène Pottier, another French national, wrote the lyrics to the second anthem, the Internationale; the music for which was furnished by Pierre Degeyter, a Belgian composer. Translated into Russian by Arkadiy Yakovlevich Kots in 1902, the song was used as the anthem of the newly created Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1918 until 1944.

Music

Aleksander Alexandrov

The music of the national anthem, created by Alexandrov, has been used in several hymns and compositions before its use in the Russian anthem. The first time the music was used was in the Hymn of the Bolshevik Party, created in 1938. The music was chosen again as the National Anthem of the Soviet Union in 1944 by the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Before Alexandrov created the Bolshevik hymn, he first used pieces of the music in the song Zhit' stalo luchshe (Life has become better).

During the 2000 anthem debate, it was discussed in the newspaper Lenta.ru that the music Alexandrov created for the Soviet hymn was similar to Vasily Kalinnikov's 1892 overture Bylina.() The supporters of the Soviet anthem used this fact in the various debates that took place in the Duma about the anthem change.() [Выступление Б. Грызлова при обсуждении законопроекта о государственной символике Российской Федерации] There is no evidence that Alexandrov borrowed or used parts of Bylina in his compositions either intentionally or coincidently.

Lyrics

Sergey Mikhalkov

Mikhalkov was asked by Stalin to write lyrics for the new Soviet hymn around the same time the music was being composed. In 1943, Mikhalkov and Georgian poet Gabriel El-Registan completed the task of writing the lyrics, which were approved a year later. Upon the death of Stalin in 1953, the lyrics composed by Mikhalov and El-Registan were discarded during the process of destalinization by the government and continued to be used without any official lyrics. Mikhalkov wrote a set of new lyrics in 1970, but they were not submitted to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet until May 27, 1977. The new lyrics, which replaced any mentions of Stalin, were approved on September 1, 1977 and were made official with the printing of the new Soviet Constitution in October of 1977. These lyrics were used until 1991, when the Soviet Union separated into fifteen nation-states.National Symbols of Russia. Росмэн, 2003. ISBN:5353012860

When it was clear that the Soviet anthem was going to be re-adopted in 2000, the Kremlin and President Putin started a national contest to find lyrics for Alexandrov's music. There were about 6,000 entries, and Mikhalkov was the winner. Before the official adoption of the anthem, the Kremlin released a section of the anthem, which made a reference to the flag and arms:

''Its mighty wings spread above us

''The Russian eagle is hovering high

''The Fatherland’s tricolor symbol

Is leading Russia’s peoples to victory[Flags of the World reporting about flag-related proposed lyrics]

Adoption

Vladimir Putin

The anthem debate picked up momentum in October of 2000 when Yeltsin's successor Vladimir Putin commented that Russian athletes were silent when the Patriotic Song was played during the gold medal ceremonies at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.[Christianity Today - Putin complains about the lack of lyrics to the anthem in October 2000] CNN also reported that players of the football club Spartak Moscow complained that the wordless anthem "affected their morale and performance".[CNN Reporting the Duma's Adoption of Alexandrov's anthem in December of 2000] Putin pressed for the former Soviet anthem to be selected as the new Russian anthem, but strongly suggested that new lyrics were to be written. The Duma voted 371-51-1 on December 8, 2000 to adopt the Soviet anthem and the new lyrics, written by Mikhalkov.People's Daily - [Russian Duma Approves National Anthem Bill]. Dec. 8, 2000. Retrieved Apr. 3, 2006. Being signed into law by President Putin on December 20, the new anthem was first used officially on December 30 during a ceremony at the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow.President of Russia [State Insignia - National Anthem]. Retrieved Mar. 30, 2006.

Not everyone agreed with the adoption—Yeltsin said that Putin should not have changed the anthem merely to "follow blindly the mood of the people". The liberal political party Yabloko stated that the re-adoption of the Soviet anthem "deepened the schism in [Russian] society".[BBC Reporting the Duma's Adoption of Alexandrov's anthem in December of 2000] The re-adoption of the Soviet anthem was supported by the Communist Party and by Putin himself. Those who opposed the Alexandrov music attempted to not only keep the Patriotic Song, but also to have the Duma vote on the Tsarist military march, Farewell of Slavianka.

Regulations

When the anthem is played on TV, the Kremlin or the Russian flag are usually depicted

While it is the choice of the performer to execute the anthem using only music, only words or a combination of both, it must be performed using the official lyrics and music provided by law. After the performance is recorded, it can be used for any purpose, such as a radio or television broadcast. The anthem can be played during solemn or celebratory occasions, but it is required to be played at the swearing-in of the President of Russia, opening and closing sessions of the Duma and the Federation Council, and official state ceremonies. The anthem is also played on television and radio before the start and closing of programming or if the programming is continuous, the anthem is played at 2400 and 0600 hours. The anthem is also played at sporting events both in Russia and abroad, but according to the protocol of the organization that is hosting the games. When the anthem is played, all headgear must be removed and people must face the Russian flag, if it is present. Those who are in uniform must give a military salute when the anthem plays. Pieces of the national anthem can be used in other works, as long as the Russian President has granted permission. Those who perform the anthem in a way that could cause offense and disrespect can be punished in accordance with the law.() [Law on the Russian anthem]

On one occasion, Putin chastized the national soccer team in the summer of 2004 about the team's behavior during the playing of the anthem. Before the start of tournament matches in the 2004 European Football Championship tournament, the team was caught on camera chewing gum during the playing of the Russian anthem. Putin, using Leonid Tyagachyov, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee as his messenger, told the team to quit chewing gum and sing the anthem. This message was delivered after the Russian team lost to Spain during the tournament.The Moscow Times [Putin Tells Soccer Team: Sing Russian Anthem, Don't Chew]. July 29, 2004. Retrieved Mar. 30, 2006.

Official lyrics

Media

Sheet music

References

External links