Maamme
English: Our Land | |
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![]() Frontpage of Vårt land by Johan Ludvig Runeberg | |
National anthem of ![]() | |
Also known as | Vårt land (English: Our Land) |
Lyrics | Johan Ludvig Runeberg, 1848 |
Music | Fredrik Pacius, 1848 |
Audio sample | |
Maamme (Instrumental) |
Maamme (Finnish: [ˈmɑːmːe], "our land”) or Vårt land (Swedish: [ˈvoːʈ ˈlanːd]) is the title of Finland's de facto national anthem.[1] The music was composed by the German immigrant Fredrik Pacius, with (original Swedish) words by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, and was performed for the first time on 13 May 1848.[2]
The original poem, written in 1846 but not printed until 1848, had 11 stanzas and formed the prologue to the great verse cycle The Tales of Ensign Stål ("Fänrik Ståhls Sägner"), a masterpiece of Romantic nationalism. The current Finnish language text is usually attributed to the 1889 translation of Ensign Stål by Paavo Cajander, but in fact originates from the 1867 translation by Julius Krohn.[3][4]
The Tales of Ensign Stål were much appreciated throughout all of Scandinavia. Up until the time of Finland's independence in 1917–18, when the song began to be recognized as specifically applying to Finland, Pacius's tune and Runeberg's text were often also sung in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Note that in the original Swedish text there is no reference to Finland (except for in verses 4 and 10, which are rarely sung), only to a country in the north, but the Finnish text explicitly refers to Finland. The poem's theme is, furthermore, remarkably similar to that of the national anthems of Sweden (Du gamla, Du fria) and Norway (Ja, vi elsker dette landet).[citation needed]
There is no law regarding an official national anthem in Finland, in the same way as Coat of arms and Flag of Finland are defined in laws. Instead its position has been established gradually by convention over the years.[5]
Today, Maamme is firmly established by convention. Children learn it in school. In formal occasions it is sung both in Finnish and in Swedish. It is played at sporting events, such as the Olympics. Some Finns have proposed that the Finnish national anthem be changed to Finlandia by Jean Sibelius,[6] with lyrics by V.A. Koskenniemi (Finnish) and Joel Rundt (Swedish). There are also those who simply prefer Finlandia as a musical piece, although critics claim that it is difficult to sing.[citation needed]
It is said that Pacius composed the tune in four days. It was popular throughout the 19th century, but established as national anthem only after Pacius' death.[7]
The tune of Maamme has similarities with the German drinking song Papst und Sultan. Many believe that Fredrik Pacius intentionally or unintentionally copied parts of the tune.[7] Another Finnish patriotic song, Sotilaspoika, composed by Pacius, also includes similarities with Papst und Sultan.[citation needed]
The melody of Maamme is also used for the national anthem of Estonia with a similarly themed text, Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm, My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy (1869).[5] It is also considered to be the national anthem for Livonians with text Min izāmō, min sindimō, My Fatherland, my native land.
Lyrics
Below are the lyrics for the first and last verse in Finnish, Swedish (as originally written), and English translation:
Maamme(Finnish version)
Vårt land(the original, by Johan Ludvig Runeberg)
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Our Land(translation from the Finnish version)
Our Land(translation from the Swedish version)
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Original lyrics
The original lyrics consisted of eleven verses but for the national anthem, the poem was shortened to the first verse and the last verse. Unless the people gathered are supposed to be either Finnish or Swedish speaking three verses are sung: the first in Finnish, the first in Swedish and the last in Finnish.
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See also
- Flag of Finland
- Holidays in Finland
- Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm – the national anthem of Estonia
- Ålänningens sång – the official anthem of Åland
- Min izāmō – the national anthem of the Livonians
References
- ^ "Suomen laki ei tunne Maamme-laulua – Kokoomus: "Säädetään Finlandia kansallislauluksi"" [Finnish law does not recognize Maamme - National Coalition: "Let's make Finlandia the national anthem"] (in Finnish). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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(help) - ^ "The Finnish national anthem". This Is Finland. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
- ^ Käännökset (Translations) - Runeberg Museum site (in Finnish)
- ^ J. L. Runeberg - Finnish Literature Society site (in Finnish)
- ^ a b Lassander, Uolevi (1998). "Vårt land - Maamme - Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm". Tuglas Society (in Finnish). Retrieved 2016-05-08.
- ^ Gronow, Pekka. ""Maamme" (Our country), brief history of the Finnish national anthem". Europeana. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
- ^ a b Holmqvist, Christian. "The Story of Vårt Land". Pacius 200 years. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
- ^ "Finland - National Anthem". csridentity.com. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/38px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)
- Finland: Maamme - Audio of the national anthem of Finland, with information and lyrics
- The Livonian version, sung with organ
- History of the Finnish national anthem
- Full lyrics at Wikisource
- This Is Finland: The Finnish National Anthem - history of the anthem, and RealAudio of the song
- www.national-anthems.net - mp3, RealAudio and Windows Media files of the anthem
- Papst und Sultan - A German drinking-song which resembles the tune of Maamme.