🇨🇭 The Swiss Song – National Anthem of Switzerland

The Swiss national anthem is on Youtube with a beautiful Swiss flag 😉

 

🎵 1. General presentation

Official name: Swiss hymn
Original title (in German): Schweizerpsalm
Author of the text: Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867)
Composer: Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854)
Date of composition: 1841
Official adoption: 1981 (definitively replacing the patriotic song «Ô monts indépendants»)
Average duration: approx. 1 min 30

Download Swiss national anthem in 4 languages

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🏔️ 2. History and origin

THE Swiss hymn was born in a context of national affirmation.
In 1841, the monk Alberich Zwyssig, from Engelberg Abbey, composed a melody on a text by Leonhard Widmer, Zurich poet.
The goal: to create a patriotic song capable of uniting the Swiss beyond languages and cantons.

For more than a century, Switzerland used another chant (O independent mountains), considered too close to the British anthem.
THE Swiss hymn gradually became established: first sung at cantonal festivals, it is provisionally recognized in 1961, Then definitively adopted in 1981 as the national anthem.

Alberich Zwyssig's music is solemn and religious, inspired by psalms and church hymns - hence his name: Schweizerpsalm (Swiss psalm).
The text, originally very spiritual, evokes alpine nature and the divine presence, reflecting the link between patriotism, landscape and faith.

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🎼 3. Official lyrics in the four national languages

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🇫🇷 French version – Swiss hymn

When the mountain is beautiful,
At sunrise,
When, in the heavens, the spark
Announcement on a vermilion day:
The sweet country breathes,
The bell rings in the distance,
Up there the sky inspires
Peace, faith, care.

Rehearsal (unofficial chorus) :
On our mountains when the sun
Announces a brilliant awakening,
And predicts the return of a more beautiful day,
The beauties of the homeland
Speak to the tender soul:
A hymn issues from our grateful hearts.
God bless Switzerland!
God, keep Switzerland!

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🇩🇪 German version – Schweizerpsalm

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

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🇮🇹 Italian version – Salmo svizzero

Quando biancheggia il mattino
And the light splendour pura,
Tu, o Signore, stai vicino
Alla libera ventura.
When the sun in the sky is inhaled,
Libero il cor s'affirma,
God of the sky, God of the world,
Tutto splende del tuo amor.

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🏔️ Romansh version – Psalm svizzer

Cur il sulegl sur noss muntognas
Brilla clar sco glisch divina,
E la natira tschantscha
Sco per gratular cun brama,
Allura tuts nus t'engraziain,
Svizra libra, patria buna,
Dio benedescha tieu pievel,
Dio benedescha tieu pievel.

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📖 4. Symbolic and cultural analysis

THE Swiss hymn does not glorify war or power, but nature and faith.
Each version evokes the sunrise over the mountains, symbol of peace and renewal.
It's an anthem of contemplation and unity, deeply rooted in the Swiss landscape.

The values expressed:

• Freedom and independence,
• Faith in God,
• Natural beauty of the country,
• Union between cantons and languages.

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🎤 5. Recent Developments and Debates

Since the 2010s, several initiatives have attempted to modernize the text, sometimes considered too religious.
A national consultation (organized by the Swiss public utility company) took place in 2014:
→ a new text, centered on the Federal Constitution (freedom, democracy, solidarity), was proposed, but no official changes has not yet been adopted.

THE Swiss hymn What remains, therefore, is the official anthem, in its four recognized language versions.

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🎶 6. Quick Fact Sheet

Element	Detail
Title	Swiss hymn (Schweizerpsalm)
Text	Leonhard Widmer (1841)
Music	Alberich Zwyssig (1841)
Provisional adoption	1961
Official adoption	April 1, 1981
Themes	Nature, faith, homeland, unity
Official languages	German, French, Italian, Romansh

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🌄 7. Interesting anecdotes

• In early performances, the song was sometimes nicknamed “the morning prayer of the Alps”.
• In French-speaking Switzerland, we still sometimes sing the shortened French version (single verse).
• The German version is the most widespread and the one used at official international events.
• THE Swiss hymn is often played by military bands or brass bands on national holidays (August 1st).