The "Swiss Psalm" is the national anthem of Switzerland. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ...

Its history dates back to 1841, when the anthem was composed by Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854). Since then it has been frequently sung on patriotic events. The Federal Council declined however on numerous occasions to accept the psalm as the official anthem. This was because they wanted the people to decide what they liked as the national song. 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Monument to Alberich Zwyssig in Bauen Father Alberich or Alberik Zwyssig (baptismal names Johann Josef Maria) (born 17 November 1808 in Bauen; died 18 November 1854 in Wettingen-Mehrerau Abbey) was a Cistercian monk who in 1841 composed the present Swiss national anthem, the Swiss Psalm (Schweizerpsalm). ... The Swiss Federal Council (German: , French: , Italian: , Romansh: ) is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government as well as the head of state of Switzerland. ...

From 1961, it provisionally replaced "Rufst Du, mein Vaterland" ("When you call, my fatherland"; in French: "O Monts indépendants"; in Italian: "Ci chiami o patria"; in Romansh: "E clomas, tger paeis"; in German commonly called "Heil dir, Helvetia") the anthem by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743-1818) to the melody of "God Save the Queen". 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Rufst du, mein Vaterland (French: O Monts indépendants; Italian: Ci chiami o patria; Romansch: E clomas, tger paeis) was the former national anthem of Switzerland, which was replaced in 1961 by the Swiss Psalm. ... Johann Rudolf Wyss (1782 - 1830) was a Swiss author, writer & folklorist. ... Publication of an early version in The Gentlemans Magazine, 15 October 1745. ...

Finally on April 1, 1981 it was declared the official Swiss national anthem. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lyrics

The German text by Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867) has been translated into all Swiss official languages. The Romansh version in Ladin is by Gion Antoni Bühler (1825-1897) and in Sursilvan by Alfons Tuor (1871-1904). An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Romansh (also spelled Rumantsch, Romansch or Romanche) is any of the various Rhaetian languages spoken in Switzerland. ...

German: Schweizerpsalm

By Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867).

1st verse

Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh' ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

2nd verse

Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find' ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

3rd verse

Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such' ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

4th verse

Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist Du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland !

P. Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854)

French: Cantique suisse

By Charles Chatelanat (1833-1907).

1st verse

Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

2nd verse

Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

3rd verse

Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux:
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.

4th verse

Des grands monts vient le secours;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.

Italian: Salmo svizzero

By Camillo Valsangiacomo (1898-1978).

1st verse

Quando bionda aurora il mattin c'indora
l'alma mia t'adora re del ciel!
Quando l'alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t'atteggia;
in favor del patrio suol,
cittadino Dio lo vuol.

2nd verse

Se di stelle è un giubilo la celeste sfera
Te ritrovo a sera o Signor!
Nella notte silenziosa
l'alma mia in Te riposa:
libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

3rd verse

Se di nubi un velo m'asconde il tuo cielo
pel tuo raggio anelo Dio d'amore!
Fuga o sole quei vapori
e mi rendi i tuoi favori:
di mia patria deh! Pietà
brilla, sol di verità

4th verse

Quando rugge e strepita impetuoso il nembo
m'è ostel tuo grembo o Signor!
In te fido Onnipossente
deh, proteggi nostra gente;
Libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

Rumantsch: Psalm svizzer

1st verse

En l'aurora la damaun ta salida il carstgaun,
spiert etern dominatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'ils munts straglischan sura,
ura liber Svizzer, ura.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

2nd verse

Er la saira en splendur da las stailas en l'azur
tai chattain nus, creatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'il firmament sclerescha
en noss cors fidanza crescha.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

3rd verse

Ti a nus es er preschent en il stgir dal firmament,
ti inperscrutabel spiert, Tutpussent!
Tschiel e terra t'obedeschan
vents e nivels secundeschan.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

4th verse

Cur la furia da l'orcan fa tremblar il cor uman
alur das ti a nus vigur, Tutpussent!
Ed en temporal sgarschaivel
stas ti franc a nus fidaivel.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
Il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

English: Swiss Psalm

1st verse

When the morning skies grow red
And o'er us their radiance shed,
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light.
When the Alps glow bright with splendour,
Pray to God, to Him surrender,
For you feel and understand,
That He dwelleth in this land.

2nd verse

In the sunset Thou art night
And beyond the starry sky,
Thou, O loving Father, ever near.
When to Heaven we are departing,
Joy and bliss Thou'lt be imparting,
For we feel and understand
That Thou dwellest in this land.

3rd verse

When dark clouds enshroud the hills
And gray mist the valley fills,
Yet Thou art not hidden from Thy sons.
Pierce the gloom in which we cower
With Thy sunshine's cleansing power
Then we'll feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land.

4th verse

Drives in the wild storm therefore,
Is you us stronghold and resistance,
You, all-powerfully whale tender, saving!
In thunderstorm eight and grey ones let
Us childlike it trust! Yes, which suspects
Pious soul, the pious soul suspects God in
The hehren native country, God, the gentleman,
In the hehren native country!

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Schweizerpsalm

• History of Swiss Psalm: How a church hymn became a national anthem
• Text and sound in the four national languages