the Brabançonne
The Brabançonne (Song of Brabant) is the national anthem of Belgium. The anthem has a Dutch, a French and a German version, for the three official languages of the country.
History
According to legend, the Belgian national anthem was written in September 1830, during the Belgian Revolution, by a young revolutionary called Jenneval, who read the lyrics during a meeting at the Aigle d'Or café.
Jenneval, a Frenchman whose real name was Alexandre Dechet (sometimes known as Louis-Alexandre Dechet), did in fact write the Brabançonne. He was at the time an actor at the theatre where, in August 1830, the revolution started which led to independence from the Netherlands. Jenneval died in the war of independence. François Van Campenhout composed the accompanying score and it was first performed in September 1830.
In 1860, Belgium formally adopted the song and music as its national anthem, although the prime minister at the time edited lyrics attacking the Dutch Prince of Orange.
The Brabançonne is not only the name of the Belgian national anthem, it is also a monument (1930) by the sculptor Charles Samuël on the Surlet de Chokier square in Brussels. The monument contains the partial lyrics of both the French and Dutch versions of the anthem. As many elements in Belgian folklorism, this is mainly based on the French La Marseillaise which is also not only an anthem but also the name of a monument in Paris.
Lyrics
Official French-language text
- Pays d'honneur O Belgique et O Patrie
- Pour t'aimer, tous nos coeurs sont unis
- A toi nos bras, nos efforts et notre vie
- C'est ton nom qu'on chante et qu'on benit
- Tu vivras toujours fiere et belle
- Plus grande en ta forte unite
- Gardons pour devise immortelle
- Le Roi, la loi, la liberte
- Gardons pour devise immortelle
- Le Roi, la loi, la liberte
- Le Roi, la loi, la liberte
- Le Roi, la loi, la liberte
Official Dutch-language text
- O dierbaar België, O heilig land der Vad'ren,
- Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.
- Aanvaard ons kracht en bloed van ons ad'ren,
- Wees ons doel in arbeid en in strijd.
- Bloei, o land, in eendracht niet te breken;
- Wees immer uzelf en ongeknecht,
- Het woord getrouw, dat g' onbevreesd moogt spreken,
- Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht!
- Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht! (2x)
Official German-language text
- O liebes Land, o Belgiens Erde,
- Dir unser Herz, Dir unsere Hand,
- Dir unser Blut, dem Heimatherde,
- wir schworen's Dir, o Vaterland!
- So blühe froh in voller Schöne,
- zu der die Freiheit Dich erzog,
- und fortan singen Deine Söhne:
- "Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!"
Unofficial translation of the French lyrics
- O Belgium, O dear mother,
- To you our hearts, to you our arms,
- To you our blood, O fatherland!
- We swear it all, you shall live!
- You shall always live, great and beautiful
- And your invincible unity
- Shall have as its immortal motto:
- The King, the Law, [the] Freedom!
Unofficial translation of the Dutch lyrics
- O beloved Belgium, O holy land of our Fathers
- Our souls and hearts are devoted to thee.
- Accept our strength and the blood of our veins,
- Be our purpose in work and struggle.
- Prosper, O country, in harmony unbreakable;
- Be forever thyself and never servile,
- True to the word that thou shouldst fearlessly declare:
- For King, for Freedom, and for Justice.
Unofficial translation of the German lyrics
- O dear land, O Belgium's earth
- To you our heart, to you our hand
- To you our blood, the fires of home
- We swear to you, O fatherland.
- So bloom joyfully in the full beauty
- To which liberty has brought you up
- And henceforth your sons will sing -
- Up Law and King and Liberty!
Recording
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Instrumental Recording by the United States Navy Band - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Trivia
While trying to form a new governement, Yves Leterme was asked to sing a part of the Brabançonne, he started to sing the Marseillaise (French anthem).
See also
External links
- Himnuszok - The "Himnuszok" website has vocal versions of the Dutch and the French versions of the Anthem.
Belgium National Anthem MIDI (5ko)- File AU Belgium National Anthem
instrumental music (570ko)
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