Austria's Anthem: History And Lyrics Explained

what is the national song of austria

The national anthem of Austria, also known as Land der Berge, Land am Strome (Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream), was officially adopted in 1946. The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradović, one of the few women to have penned a national anthem. The melody has been attributed to either Johann Holzer or Paul Wranitzky, though it was initially thought to have been composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Characteristics Values
Name "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream")
Other Names "Bundeshymne der Republik Österreich" ("National Anthem of the Republic of Austria"), "Hymne 2.0"
Year Adopted 1946
Lyrics Paula von Preradović
Melody Attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but now attributed to Johann Holzer or Paul Wranitzky
Lyrics Added 1947
Lyrics Modified 2012

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History of Austria's national anthem

Austria's national anthem, "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn), was established in the aftermath of World War II, as the previous anthem had been appropriated by Germany and was associated with the Nazi regime. The melody, originally attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is now believed to have been composed by Johann Holzer, although this is still disputed. The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradović, with the anthem becoming official in 1946 and the lyrics being added in 1947.

The previous Austrian anthem, "Sei gesegnet ohne Ende" (Be blessed without end), had been set to the tune of Haydn's "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (God Save Franz the Emperor). This was used as the imperial anthem since 1797. However, after the annexation of Austria into the German Reich in 1938, the melody was adopted for the German national anthem, leading to the need for a new Austrian anthem.

Paula von Preradović, the granddaughter of a Croatian national poet, was persuaded by Minister of Education Felix Hurdes to submit an entry for the new anthem. Her lyrics were chosen, and on 22 October 1946, the song became the official anthem of Austria, initially without words. The lyrics were added in February 1947, with the anthem known by its first line, "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land by the River).

Over time, there have been several attempts to modify the lyrics to be more gender-neutral. In the early 21st century, Austria's Minister of Women's Affairs proposed changing words like "home of great sons," "fraternal," and "Fatherland." After much controversy, the proposal was passed, and on 1 January 2012, the lyrics were changed. The first verse now references sons and daughters, and the third verse replaced "fraternal choirs" with "jubilant choirs."

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Lyrics of the anthem

The National Anthem of Austria, also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream"), was officially adopted in 1946. The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradović, one of the few women to have penned a national anthem. The anthem was initially adopted without words, and the lyrics were added in February 1947.

The lyrics of the Austrian national anthem are as follows:

> Land of mountains, land on the river,

> Land of fields, land of spires,

> Land of hammers, with a rich future,

> Home of great daughters and sons,

> A nation blessed by its sense of beauty,

> Highly praised Austria, highly praised Austria.

>

> Strongly fought for, fiercely contested,

> You are in the centre of the continent

> Like a strong heart,

> You have borne since the earliest days

> The burden of a high mission

> Much tried Austria, much tried Austria.

>

> Joyfully jaunting, future-bound,

> As one nation, safe and sound,

> In high spirits newly found!

> All together now, in jubilation

> To thee, we pledge with animation

> Austria, dearly loved!

>

> Land der Berge, Land am Strome,

> Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,

> Land der Hämmer, zukunftsreich!

In 2012, the lyrics were modified to make them gender-neutral. The original lyrics included the words "sons," "fraternal," and "fatherland," which were replaced with more inclusive language.

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The anthem's melody

The melody for Austria's national anthem was originally attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, this attribution is now seen as doubtful. The melody's most likely composer is the Austrian composer Johann Holzer, although it has also been attributed to Paul Wranitzky.

Nineteen days before his death on 5 December 1791, Mozart composed his last complete work, the Freimaurerkantate, K. 623. In parts of the printed edition of this cantata, there appeared the song K. 623a "Lasst uns mit geschlungnen Händen" ("Let us with joined hands"), which is the melody to which the Austrian national anthem is sung. However, the melody has not been proven or disproven to be written by Mozart, and some scholars claim it could have been written by Holzer, who was Mozart's contemporary and a fellow lodge member.

The Austrian national anthem, also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream" or "Land of Mountains, Land on the River"), was adopted in 1946. The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradović, with the song officially becoming the national anthem on 22 October 1946. However, the lyrics were not added until February 1947. The text and notes of the anthem were officially codified in the Federal Act of the National Anthem of the Republic of Austria, with only the first verse considered official and performed during events.

The national anthem of Austria has undergone changes over time. On 1 January 2012, the lyrics were modified to be more gender-neutral. The original lyrics included references to "sons," "fraternal," and "fatherland," which some considered objectionable. As a result, the lyrics were updated to be more inclusive and reflective of modern values.

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The anthem's composer

The Austrian national anthem, also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream"), was originally believed to have been composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, this attribution is now considered doubtful, and the melody's true composer is a matter of dispute. The melody has been attributed to either Johann Holzer or Paul Wranitzky, with Holzer being regarded as the most likely composer.

The lyrics of the Austrian national anthem were written by Paula von Preradović, one of the few women to have authored lyrics for a national anthem. The anthem was adopted in 1946, and von Preradović's lyrics were added in February 1947. On 22 October 1946, the song was officially declared Austria's national anthem, but it was initially without lyrics. Von Preradović's lyrics were chosen later, and on the same evening, her sons, Otto and Fritz Molden, composed a satirical version of them.

Paula von Preradović was an Austrian writer and poet. Her lyrics for the national anthem were modified in 2005 to be more gender-neutral. The original lyrics included words like "sons," "fraternal," and "fatherland," which were changed to be more inclusive. The modified lyrics were officially codified in the Federal Act of the National Anthem of the Republic of Austria, and only the first verse is considered official and performed during events.

The Austrian national anthem has undergone changes over the years to reflect the country's evolving values and societal norms. The process of modifying the anthem to be more gender-neutral is an example of Austria's efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society. These changes demonstrate the dynamic nature of cultural symbols and their ability to adapt to the needs and values of the people they represent.

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Changes to the anthem

The Austrian national anthem, also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream"), has undergone several changes since its adoption in 1946. Initially, the anthem was adopted without lyrics, and it was only in February 1947 that the lyrics by Paula von Preradović were added. Preradović, a woman, is one of the few female writers of a national anthem.

In the years since, there have been several attempts to modify the lyrics to make them more gender-neutral. In 2005, Women's Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) proposed changing words like "sons," "fraternal," and "fatherland." However, her proposal faced resistance and failed to gain widespread support. It wasn't until January 1, 2012, that the lyrics were officially changed to be more gender-neutral. Now, only the first verse is considered official and is performed during events.

The melody of the Austrian national anthem has also been a subject of debate. Originally attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, it is now believed to have been composed by Johann Holzer or Paul Wranitzky. The anthem's melody is based on Mozart's last complete work, the "Freimaurerkantate, K. 623," specifically the song "Lasst uns mit geschlungnen Händen" ("Let us with joined hands").

The competition to select the lyrics for the anthem was judged by a jury of literary figures, musicians, and politicians. Preradović's entry, though not initially a priority for her, won the highest points. The lyrics were first published in the Die Presse newspaper on March 22, 1947, and the anthem was played on the radio two weeks prior. The popularity of the anthem grew quickly, despite the melody being more complex than the previous anthem.

Frequently asked questions

The national song of Austria is "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" ("Land of the Peaks, Land by the Stream").

The song was officially adopted as the national anthem of Austria on 22 October 1946, without lyrics. The lyrics were added in February 1947.

The lyrics were written by Paula von Preradović, one of the few women to have written lyrics for a national anthem.

The melody for the Austrian national anthem has been attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but this is now seen as doubtful. The most likely composer is the Austrian composer Johann Holzer.

Yes, the lyrics to the Austrian national anthem were changed on 1 January 2012 to make the composition gender-neutral.

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