State Anthem of the Soviet Union
English: State Anthem of the Soviet Union | |
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Государственный гимн СССР[a] | |
National anthem of the Soviet Union State anthem of the Russian SFSR | |
Also known as | Славься, Отечество наше Свободное (English: "Be Glorious, our free Fatherland") |
Lyrics | Gabriel El-Registan, Sergey Mikhalkov (1943 and 1977) |
Music | Alexander Alexandrov, c. 1938 |
Adopted | 15 March 1944 1 September 1977 (modified version) |
Relinquished | 26 December 1991 (as national anthem of the Soviet Union) 23 November 1990 (as state anthem of the Russian SFSR) |
Audio sample | |
"State Anthem of the USSR" (instrumental) |
The "State Anthem of the Soviet Union" (Russian: Госуда́рственный гимн Сове́тского Сою́за, romanized: Gosudárstvenny gimn Sovétskogo Soyúza, IPA: [ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪnːɨj ɡʲimn sɐvʲˈet͡skəvə sɐˈjuzə]), also unofficially known as "Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye" (Russian: Сла́вься, Оте́чество на́ше свобо́дное, lit. 'Be Glorious, our free Motherland') was the official national anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the state anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1944 to 1991, replacing "The Internationale". The lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with Gabriel El-Registan (1899–1945) and the music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). Although the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, the melody of its national anthem continues to be used in the Russian Federation's national anthem, which has different lyrics from the version used in the Soviet Union.
History
Origins
The music was originally composed by Alexander Alexandrov in circa 1938 for the Hymn of the Bolshevik Party. The opening bars of this song were sampled from one of Alexandrov's previous pieces, Life Has Become Better.[1][2] This song was based off a quote said by former Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin at the First All-Union Meeting of the Stakhanovites on November 17, 1935.[3] The manner of this song alludes to Stalin's cult of personality.
When the Communist International (Comintern) was dissolved in 1943 in order for the Soviet Union to maintain its alliance with the other Allies of World War II, a new musical piece was needed to replace "The Internationale" as the national anthem. A contest was held in mid to late 1943 for a new anthem to be selected, with more than 200 submitted entries.[4] Alexandrov's music was chosen by Stalin personally, who both praised and criticized the song.[5] Once the song was selected, new lyrics had to be written. Stalin thought that the hymn to be short, and that it had to invoke the Red Army's impending victory over the forces of Germany on the Eastern Front. The poets Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan were selected to write new lyrics by Stalin's staffers, and were called to Moscow. They were tasked with writing new lyrics which referenced not only the Great Patriotic War, but also "a Country of Soviets". The first draft of the lyrics were completed overnight. Stalin had suggested more lyrics be made about himself, and so an extra line was added making reference to Stalin inspiring the people.
The anthem was first published on 7 November 1943, was played for the first time on Soviet radio at midnight on 1 January 1944 and was officially adopted on 15 March the same year.[6] The newly created lyrics had three different refrains following three different stanzas; in each refrain, the second line was consequently modified with references to friendship, then happiness and finally to glory. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union's war against Germany were originally invoked in the second and third verses respectively.
Post-Stalin era
With the process of de-Stalinization after Stalin's death, the lyrics referring to him were considered unacceptable, and from 1953–1977 the anthem was performed without lyrics.[7] A notable exception took place at the 1976 Canada Cup ice hockey tournament, where singer Roger Doucet insisted on performing the anthem with lyrics after consultations with Russian studies scholars from Université de Montréal and Soviet team officials.[8][9] In 1977, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, revised lyrics, earlier written in 1970 by original author Sergey Mikhalkov,[10] were adopted. The varying refrains were replaced by a uniform refrain following all stanzas; the line praising Stalin was dropped, as were the lines referring to the Great Patriotic War. A notable change in the lyrics was the replacement of a line referencing the Flag of the Soviet Union to one mentioning the Bolshevik Party in the form of "Partiya Lenina" (The party of Lenin). These lyrics were also present in the original Bolshevik party anthem at the same location within the melody, followed by the lyrics "Partiya Stalina" (The party of Stalin).
Post-1991 use
Use in the Russian Federation
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation adopted a new wordless anthem called the "Patriotic Song", although there were suggestions for adopting lyrics. As a result, a few different versions were produced.[11] In 2000, the current national anthem of Russia was introduced, which used the music of the Soviet national anthem and new lyrics written by Sergey Mikhalkov.
State Union of Russia and Belarus
Also, the same music was used for a proposal of the anthem of the State Union of Russia and Belarus entitled Derzhavny Soyuz Narodov (Union of Sovereign Nations). Although never officially adopted, the lyrics of that piece were not tied to any specific nationality, and could be adopted for a broader union. However, there appears to be no plans to utilize that piece in any official role. The anthem also had official versions in the languages of every Soviet republic and in several other Soviet languages.
Decommunization
In some post-Soviet states which adopted decommunization laws banning the Communist symbolism, performing the Soviet anthem is illegal. For example, since 2015 in Ukraine the offenders face up to five years of prison.[12] Similar laws were adopted in Latvia,[13] and Lithuania.[14]
Official Translations
The anthem has been officially translated to several languages. Below is a list of authors of the translation of the anthem.
Language | For | Date | Author |
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Latvian | Latvian SSR | 1944 | Ārija Elksne and Andris Vējāns[15] |
Estonian | Estonian SSR | unknown | Vladimir Beekman |
Lithuanian | Lithuanian SSR | 1944 | Antanas Venclova[16] |
Tatar | Tatar ASSR | unknown | Akhmet Abdullovich Iskhakov and Nuri Gazizovich Arslanov[17] |
Bashkir | Bashkir ASSR | unknown | A. Igebaev, G. Ramazanov, and S. Әlibaev[18] |
Sheet music of the translations
Soviet Socialist Republics
Country | Armenian SSR | Azerbaijan SSR | Byelorussian SSR | Estonian SSR | Georgian SSR |
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Sheet music | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Country | Kazakh SSR | Kirghiz SSR | Latvian SSR | Lithuanian SSR | Moldavian SSR |
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Sheet music | Example | Example | Example |
Country | Russian SFSR | Tajik SSR | Turkmen SSR | Ukrainian SSR | Uzbek SSR |
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Sheet music | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics
Country | Tatar ASSR |
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Sheet music |
Lyrics
Below is a set of tables containing the lyrics for the hymn. As there were two official versions of the lyrics (one in 1944 and one in 1977) both are included within their own tables.
Original lyrics
Lyrics for the 1944 version | ||
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Russian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration (BGN/PCGN) | Literal translation |
Союз нерушимый республик свободных |
Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh |
An unbreakable union of free republics, |
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Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, |
Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, |
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Мы армию нашу растили в сраженьях. |
My armiyu nashu rastili v srazhen'yakh, |
We grew our army in battles, |
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Lyrics for the 1977 version | ||
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Russian | Transliteration (BGN/PCGN) | Literal translation |
Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз! |
Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh Splotila naveki velikaya Rus'. Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny voley narodov Yediny, moguchy Sovetsky Soyuz! |
An unbreakable union of free republics, The Great Russia has welded forever to stand. Long live the creation of the will of the people, The united, mighty Soviet Union! |
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Сквозь грозы сияло нам солнце свободы, И Ленин великий нам путь озарил: На правое дело он поднял народы, На труд и на подвиги нас вдохновил! |
Skvoz' grozy siyalo nam solntse svobody, I Lenin velikiy nam put' ozaril, Na pravoye delo on podnyal narody, Na trud i na podvigi nas vdokhnovil! |
Through tempests the sun of freedom shone to us, And the great Lenin illuminated our path, To a just cause he raised up the people To labour and heroic deeds he inspired us! |
В победе бессмертных идей коммунизма Мы видим грядущее нашей страны, И Красному знамени славной Отчизны Мы будем всегда беззаветно верны! |
V pobede bessmertnykh idey kommunizma My vidim gryadushcheye nashey strany, I Krasnomu znameni slavnoy Otchizny My budem vsegda bezzavetno verny! |
In the victory of the immortal ideas of Communism We see the future of our country, And to the Red Banner of our glorious Motherland We shall always be selflessly true! |
Other translations
Other translations for the 1944 version | ||
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Official CPSU translation[19] | Paul Robeson's translation | English Translation by Olga Paul[20] |
Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics Great Russia has welded forever to stand! Created in struggle by will of the Peoples, United and Mighty our Soviet Land! |
United forever in friendship and labor, Our mighty Republics will ever endure. The great Soviet Union will live through the ages. The dream of a people their fortress secure! |
The Russian republics, in freedom united, Have mustered their power, their glory, their pride, And thus they created the great Soviet Union, The will of the nations that spread far and wide! |
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Through tempests the shadows of freedom have cheered us, Along the new path where great Lenin did lead, Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us, Inspired us to labour and Valorus Deed! |
Through days dark and stormy where great Lenin led us Our eyes saw the bright Sun of freedom above and Stalin our leader with faith in the people, Inspired us to build up the land that we love! |
The sunlight of freedom has shone through the tempest, And Lenin has lighted our path with his flame, While Stalin has shown us that faith in the people Inspires us to action, to deeds and to fame. |
Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle, Barbarian invaders we'll swiftly strike down. In combat the fate of the future we'll settle, Our country we'll lead to eternal renown! |
We fought for the future, destroyed the invader, and brought to our homeland the laurels of fame. Our glory will live in the memory of nations and all generations will honour her name! |
Our army in action has grown in its power, And soon it will wipe out the enemy horde; The fate of the future is sealed by our bravery, And honour and glory shall be our reward! |
International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions
International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions for Russian | |
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1944 | 1977 |
sɐˈjʉs nʲɪrʊˈʂɨmᵻj rʲɪsˈpublʲɪk svɐˈbodnᵻx
splɐˈtʲilə nɐˈvʲekʲɪ vʲɪˈlʲikəjə ˈrusʲ. ˈda ˈzdrastvʊjɪt ˈsozdənːᵻj ˈvolʲɪj nɐˈrodəf jɪˈdʲinᵻj, mɐˈgut͡ɕɪj sɐˈvʲet͡skʲɪj sɐˈjʉs! |
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prʲɪˈpʲef:
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ˈskvosʲ ˈgrozᵻ sʲɪjæˈlə ˈnam ˈsont͡sᵻ svɐˈbodᵻ,
ˈi ˈlʲenʲɪn vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnam ˈputʲ ɐzɐˈrʲil: ˈnas ˈvɨrəsʲtʲɪl ˈstalʲɪn —— nə ˈvʲernəsʲtʲ ˈnɐrodʊ, nə ˈtrut ˈi nə ˈpodvʲɪɡʲɪ ˈnas vdəxnɐˈvʲil! |
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ˈmɨ ˈarmʲɪjʉ ˈnaʂʊ rɐsʲˈtʲilʲɪ f‿srɐˈʐɛnʲjəx.
zɐxˈvat͡ɕːɪkəf ˈpodlᵻx z‿ˈdorəɡʲɪ smʲɪˈtʲɵm! ˈmɨ v‿ˈbʲitvəx rʲɪˈʂajɪm sʊdʲˈbu pəkɐˈlʲenʲɪj, ˈmɨ k‿ˈslavʲɪ ɐˈt͡ɕːiznʊ ˈsvojʉ pəvʲɪˈdʲɵm! |
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Media
See also
- God Save the Tsar!
- Grom pobedy, razdavajsya! ("Let the thunder of victory sound!")
- National anthem of Russia
- Patrioticheskaya Pesnya ("Patriotic Song")
- The Internationale
- Worker's Marseillaise, Russian version of La Marseillaise
- National anthems of the Soviet Union and Union Republics
Notes
- ^ Державний гімн СРСР / Derzhavny himn SRSR (Ukrainian)
Дзяржаўны гімн СССР / Dziaržaǔny himn SSSR (Belarusian)
СССР мадҳияси (Uzbek)
КСРО Мемлекеттік Әнұраны (Kazakh)
СССР гимны (Bashkir)
ССРБ дәүләт гимны (Tatar)
ეროვნული ჰიმნი სსრკ / Erovnuli himni SSRK (Georgian)
ССРИ Дөвләт һимни (Azerbaijani)
SSRS valstybinis himnas (Lithuanian)
Имнул де стат ал УРСС / Imnul le stat al UssR (Moldavian)
PSRS valsts himna (Latvian)
СССР Мамлекеттик Гимн (Kirghiz)
ИҶШС Суруди Милли (Tajik)
ԽՍՀՄ պետական օրհներգը / KHSHM petakan orhnergi (Armenian)
Дабаралы өвги ССРС (Turkmen)
NSVL riigihümn (Estonian)
SNTL:n valtiohymni (Finnish)
UdSSR-Hymne (German)
Hymne de l'URSS (French)
Szovjetunió Himnusz (Hungarian)
References
- ^ Russian: Жить Стало Лучше, romanized: Zhit' Stalo Luchshe, IPA: [ʐɨtʲ ˈstalə ˈlut͡ʂʂɨ]
- ^ "A. V. Aleksandrov, "Zhit' Stalo Luchshe"". www.cyberussr.com. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
- ^ "Zhit' stalo luchshe, zhit' stalo veseleye - slova Stalina" Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселее - слова Сталина [Life has become better, life has become more cheerful - the words of Stalin]. bibliotekar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-12-18.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help); Invalid|script-title=
: missing prefix (help) - ^ 1906-1975., Shostakovich, Dmitriĭ Dmitrievich, (2004). Testimony : the memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich. Volkov, Solomon. (25th anniversary ed.). New York: Limelight Editions. pp. 261–262. ISBN 9780879109981. OCLC 53183394.
{{cite book}}
:|last=
has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ E., Fay, Laurel (2000). Shostakovich : a life. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 9780195182514. OCLC 40954268.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Gimn Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik (Stalinsky)" Гимн Союза Советских Социалистических Республик («Сталинский») [Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Stalin's)]. Museum of Russian Anthems. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help); Invalid|script-title=
: missing prefix (help) - ^ Sputnik. "Russia Marks Soviet Poet Mikhalkov's 100th Anniversary".
- ^ Morse, Eric (9 September 2009). "The Cold War on ice". canada.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
- ^ "How Roger Doucet Wrote the Soviet National Anthem".
- ^ Голованова, М. П.; В. С. Шергин (2003). Государственные символы России. Москва: Росмэн-Пресс. p. 150. ISBN 5-353-01286-0.
- ^ II. Связанные с гимном Глинки Archived August 1, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ "За гимн СССР - 5 лет тюрьмы: декоммунизация в цифрах и фактах".
- ^ Sputnik. "Latvia Bans Soviet, Nazi Symbols". en.ria.ru.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Lithuanian ban on Soviet symbols".
- ^ "Data for item "43210"". dom.lndb.lv. LNB Digitala Biblioteka. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ Marcinkevičius, Juozas. "Tautiškos giesmės likimasprijungus Lietuvą prie Sovietų Sąjungos(1940-1950)" (PDF). Retrieved July 29, 2018.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Совет Социалистик Республикалар Союзы гимны". erlar.ru. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Союз нерушимый - Башкирский язык". bashkort-tele.livejournal.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- ^ "Lyrics: The Soviet National Anthem". www.marxists.org. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
- ^ "Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza" Гимн Советского Союза [Hymn of the Soviet Union] (PDF). Russian Anthems Museum. 2005-05-23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
{{cite web}}
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External links
- 20 Most popular Soviet songs
- The author of Russian national anthem: sources of the USSR's anthem in Russian.
- by K.Kovalev – Eng. Bortniansky's anthem "Kol slaven" - Eng.
- Vocal performance of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union with lyrics on YouTube
- As presented by Central Television in 1984 on YouTube
- Collection of the USSR anthem in different languages