Tautiška giesmė
| "Tautiška giesmė" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Tautiška giesmė" is the national anthem of Lithuania. The music and lyrics were written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka. The fifty-word poem was a condensing of Kudirka's ideas for the Lithuanian state, the Lithuanian people and her proud past. Shortly after his death in 1899, the song was played to Lithuanians living in Russia.
The first Lithuanian performance occurred in Vilnius in 1905, and became the official national anthem in 1919. In 1950, the Soviet government replaced Tautiška giesmė with their own anthem. The lyrics, written in 1950—and modified after Stalin's death—are about working together with all peoples and how Communism, "will light the Earth."
"Tautiška giesmė" was reinstated as the national anthem in 1992, when the new Constitution was ratified after independence from the Soviet Union. The status of Tautiška giesmė as the state anthem was solidified in 1999 by the passage of a national law.
Creation
At the time when the poem Lietuva, Tevyne musu was written, Lithuania was under the control of the Russian Empire. Kudirka, a medical student at the University of Warsaw, was writing as a columnist for the newspaper Varpas (The Bell). In his columns of Varpas, Kudirka wrote about how Lithuanians should be a proud people, the problems the Russian Government was causing the Lithuanian population and denounced those who wished to work for the Russians. In the course of writing for Varpas, he wrote down his thoughts on what Lithuania was and what it should be, resulting in the fifty-word poem called Lietuva, Tevyne musu (Lithuania, Our Homeland).[1]
The poem described the heroic past of Lithuania and expressed hope for her people to care for the land, care for humanity and to live in honor. Kudirka also hoped for the country to become a source of light, prosperity and to shake off ignorance. Without a melody, Kudirka took time to compose the music while laying on his death bed before dying of tuberculosis. Both the melody and the lyrics were printed in Varpas in September of 1898. Upon his death in 1899, Kudirka's tomb was engraved with the second stanza of the anthem (later destroyed by the authorities).[2]
History
Shortly after Kudirka's death, the first performance of the poem occurred at a concert in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1899. The concert was conducted by Ceslovas Sasnauskas and was attended by Lithuanians, which St. Petersburg had the largest population of at that time. The first performance of the poem in Lithuania occurred during the Great Seimas of Vilnius on December 3, 1905.
When Lithuania declared its independence from Russia in 1918, the song was declared as the state anthem.[3] This was continued until Lithuania was annexed into the Soviet Union after World War II.[4] Before the Soviet takeover, there were suggestions to modify the words, mostly to include a reference to God. It was decided, in Kudirka's memory, that the lyrics should remain as he had written them.[5][6]
During the Soviet era, an anthem was created for the republic starting in 1950. The music was composed by Balys Dvarionas and Jonas Švedas, and the words were written originally by Antanas Venclova. Due to the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, the lyrics were modified by Vacys Reimeris to remove instances of his name. The overall theme of the anthem stated how the Lithuanian people would work with peoples of the other Soviet Republics, the struggles they had to achieve happiness and how Communism would be the source of light for the world. The song was continued to be used until Lithuania broke away from the Soviet Union. Starting in 1988, Tautiška giesmė was put forward as the Lithuanian anthem. Approved by the Lithuanian SSR Supreme Soviet and successive legislative bodies, the status of Tautiška giesmė being the national anthem was confirmed in 1992.[7] In that year, the Constitution of Lithuania was approved by citizens; Article 19 of the document says Tautiška giesmė will be the national anthem of Lithuania.[8] The last law related to the national anthem was passed in 1999; it contained the official lyrics and protocol on how and when to play the anthem.[9]
1999 law
Signed into law by President Valdas Adamkus on June 9, 1999, the "Law on the National Anthem of the Republic of Lithuania" details when and where the national anthem is played and how it is supposed to be performed.[9]
Article 2 of the law states the anthem is to be played at the following occasions: At the beginning or ending of sessions of the Seimas, at the beginning or ending of solemn sitting of the Seimas, and at the beginning or ending of solemn meetings and sittings, national holidays and memorial days, at receptions and farewells of foreign leaders of states and governments on official visits to Lithuania—but only after the anthem of the foreign country has been played.
It is played in foreign countries to represent Lithuania—according to diplomatic protocols—Programs on National TV (at the beginning of the programming) on national holidays and other days if the flag has to raised by order of the government; programs of National Radio – every day at the beginning and ending of the first program. While raising the national flag during public events of governmental institutions, businesses, and organizations. The anthem can also be played at other occasions, such as sporting competitions.[9]
When playing the anthem, the music can be either live or recorded. Regardless if the music is live or recorded, the anthem can be performed with a choir, an orchestra or a military band or can be a combination of the latter two. Article 4, section 2, states that all participants are encouraged to sing the national anthem. When the anthem is played, all civilians are asked to stand and pay respect to the anthem. If employees of national defense, police, and other military and militaristic organizations are present, they will respect the anthem in a way prescribed by their statutes. The anthem cannot be used for background music, advertisement uses and for pure entertainment, such as karaoke. Public disrespect of the anthem can be punishable by law.[9]
Lyrics
|
Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų, Tegul Tavo vaikai eina Tegul saulė Lietuvoj Tegul meilė Lietuvos |
English translation[10] Lithuania, our homeland, Let your children always follow May the sun above our land May the love of Lithuania |
References
- ^ Poems by Vincas Kudirka members.efn.org - Retrieved 22 October 2007
- ^ Vincas Kudirka biog from The Lithuanian Word - Published 1970-1978 as part of the ENCYCLOPEDIA LITUANICA. spaudos.lt - Retrieved 28 July 2007.
- ^ Act of Independence of Lithuania (February 16, 1918) neris.mii.lt - Retrieved 22 October 2007
- ^ Music and lyrics omnitel.net - Retrieved 22 October 2007
- ^ Encyclopedia Lituanica, "National anthem", volume IV, pages 24-26
- ^ Antanas Klima, Two Lithuanian Encyclopedias completed, Lituanus: Lithuanian Quarterly Journal of Arts and Sciences 25(4), Winter 1979. ISSN 0024-5089. lituanus.org - Retrieved 30 August 2006.
- ^ Books Extracts patogupirkti.lt - Retrieved 22 October 2007
- ^ Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania: Chapter 1, Article 19
- ^ a b c d Law on the National Anthem of the Republic of Lithuania - Published 9 June 2007 skelbimas.lt - Retrieved 22 October 2007
- ^ English Lyrics of Tautiška giesmė Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania - lrs.lt/home - Retrieved 22 October 2007
See also
External links
