Himnusz
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"Himnusz" – the song beginning with the words Isten, áldd meg a magyart listen (God, bless the Hungarians) – is the official national anthem of Hungary. It was adopted in 1844 and the first stanza is sung at official ceremonies. The words were written by Ferenc Kölcsey, a nationally renowned poet in 1823, and the now-official music was composed by romantic composer Ferenc Erkel, although other less-known musical versions exist. The poem had the subtitle "A magyar nép zivataros századaiból" ("From the rough centuries of the Hungarian people"); it is often argued that this subtitle was only added so that the poem passes Habsburg censorship, by emphasizing past rather than present national grievances.
The poem and song titled "Szózat", which starts with the words Hazádnak rendületlenül légy híve, óh magyar (To your homeland be faithful steadfastly, O Hungarian) enjoys a social status nearly equal to that of "Himnusz", even though only "Himnusz" is mentioned in the Constitution of Hungary. Traditionally, Himnusz is sung at the beginning of ceremonies, and Szózat at the end.
Recognition is also given to the Rákóczi March, a short wordless piece (composer unknown, but sometimes attributed to János Bihari) which is often used on state military occasions; and the poem Nemzeti dal written by Sándor Petőfi.
The official radio station Kossuth Rádió plays Himnusz every day at ten past midnight when broadcast on AM bands ends, and so do the state TV channels at the end of the daily broadcast.
Another popular song is the Székely Himnusz (Szekler Hymn), an unofficial national anthem of the Hungarian-speaking Szeklers (around 800,000 people) living in Eastern Transylvania (now part of Romania) and in the rest of the world.
The words of the Hungarian anthem are unusual for the genre in expressing a direct plea to God rather than proclaiming national pride. Because of the mention of God, the anthem was played but the words were not sung during the period of the strongest Communist rule in Hungary (1949–1956). (Party Secretary Mátyás Rákosi even asked composer Zoltán Kodály to write a new, Communist-themed national anthem, but Kodály refused, and Rákosi didn't press the matter.) After the fall of the Hungarian Revolution, János Kádár attempted to replace the Himnusz with Szózat as the national anthem, but failed.
[edit] Lyrics
Two English versions are given below; both are free translations of the Hungarian words.
| Himnusz Image:Hu-magyarhimnusz.ogg Instrumental version of Ferenc Kölcsey's poem
Problems listening to the file? See media help. |
|
Hungarian Lyrics |
Literal Translation |
Poetic Translation |
|
Isten, áldd meg a magyart |
O Lord, bless the nation of Hungary |
O, my God, the Magyar bless |
|
Őseinket felhozád |
You brought our ancestors up |
By Thy help our fathers gained |
|
Értünk Kunság mezein |
For us on the plains of the Kuns |
For us let the golden grain |
|
Hajh, de bűneink miatt |
Alas, but for our sins |
But, alas! for our misdeed, |
|
Hányszor zengett ajkain |
How often came from the mouths |
O, how often has the voice |
|
Bújt az üldözött, s felé |
The fugitive hid, and towards him |
Though in caves pursued he lie, |
|
Vár állott, most kőhalom, |
Castle stood, now a heap of stones |
‘Neath the fort, a ruin now, |
|
Szánd meg Isten a magyart Written by: FERENC KÖLCSEY (1823) |
Pity, O Lord, the Hungarians Translated by: LASZLO KOROSSY (2003) |
Pity, God, the Magyar, then, Translated by: WILLIAM N. LOEW (1881) |
[edit] Himnusz sculpture
On May 7, 2006, a sculpture was inaugurated for Himnusz at Szarvas Square, Budakeszi, a small town close to Budapest. It was created by Mária V. Majzik, an artist with the Hungarian Heritage Award, depicting the full text of the poem in a circle, centered around a two metres high bronze figure of God, with 21 bronze bells in seven arches between eight pieces of stone, each four and a half metres high. The musical form of the poem can be played on the bells. Its costs, 40 million forints (roughly 200,000 USD[1]), were collected by public subscription.
[edit] External links
- AU sound file
- MP3 sound file
- MIDI file
- Music sheets: [2] [3] [4] [5]
an:Isten, áldd meg a magyart ast:Isten, áldd meg a magyart be-x-old:Himnusz (Isten, áldd meg a magyart) bs:Himnusz bg:Химн на Унгария ca:Isten, áldd meg a magyart cv:Венгри патшалăхĕн гимнĕ cs:Maďarská hymna cy:Isten, áldd meg a magyart de:Himnusz et:Isten, áldd meg a magyart el:Εθνικός ύμνος της Ουγγαρίας es:Isten áldd meg a magyart eo:Hungara nacia himno fr:Himnusz fy:Himnusz gv:Isten, áldd meg a magyart gd:Himnusz gl:Himnusz ko:헝가리의 국가 hr:Himnusz id:Himnusz ia:Isten, áldd meg a magyart is:Himnusz it:Himnusz kw:Himnusz li:Himnusz hu:Magyar himnusz mk:Боже, благослови го Унгарецот ms:Himnusz na:Himnusz nl:Isten, áldd meg a magyart ja:ハンガリーの国歌 no:Isten áldd meg a magyart nn:Isten, áldd meg a magyart oc:Himnusz pl:Hymn Węgier pt:Hino nacional da Hungria ro:Isten, áldd meg a magyart ru:Гимн Венгрии sq:Himnusz sk:Isten, áldd meg a magyart sl:Himnusz sr:Химна Мађарске fi:Isten, áldd meg a magyart sv:Himnusz tr:Macaristan Ulusal Marşı udm:Венгрилэн гимнэз uk:Державний гімн Угорщини fiu-vro:Isten, áldd meg a magyart zh:匈牙利國歌

