The Brabançonne
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The Brabançonne (Song of Brabant) is the national anthem of Belgium. The anthem has both a Dutch and a French version, for the two major languages of the country.
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[edit] History
According to legend, the Belgian national anthem was written in September 1830, during the Belgian Revolution, by a young revolutionary called Jenneval, who read the lyrics during a meeting at the Aigle d'Or café.
Jenneval, whose real name was Alexandre Dechet (sometimes known as Louis-Alexandre Dechet), did in fact write the Brabançonne. He was at the time an actor at the theatre where, in August 1830, the revolution started which led to independence from the Netherlands. Jenneval died in the war of independence. François Van Campenhout composed the accompanying score and it was first performed in September 1830.
In 1860, Belgium formally adopted the song and music as its national anthem, although the prime minister at the time edited lyrics attacking the Dutch Prince of Orange.
[edit] Trivia
The Brabançonne is not only the name of the Belgian national anthem, it is also a monument on the Surlet de Chokier square in Brussels. The monument contains the partial lyrics of both the French and Dutch versions of the anthem. As many elements in Belgian folklorism, this is mainly based on the French La Marseillaise which is also not only an anthem but also the name of a monument in Paris.
[edit] Lyrics
[edit] Official French-language text
- O Belgique, ô mère chérie,
- À toi nos cœurs, à toi nos bras,
- À toi notre sang, ô Patrie!
- Nous le jurons tous: tu vivras!
- Tu vivras toujours grande et belle
- Et ton invincible unité
- Aura pour devise immortelle:
- Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté! (3x)
[edit] Official Dutch-language text
- O dierbaar België, O heilig land der Vad'ren,
- Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.
- Aanvaard ons kracht en bloed van ons ad'ren,
- Wees ons doel in arbeid en in strijd.
- Bloei, o land, in eendracht niet te breken;
- Wees immer uzelf en ongeknecht,
- Het woord getrouw, dat onbevreesd moet spreken,
- Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht. (3x)
[edit] Official German-language text
- O liebes Land, o Belgiens Erde,
- Dir unser Herz, Dir unsere Hand,
- Dir unser Blut, dem Heimatherde,
- wir schworen's Dir, o Vaterland!
- So blühe froh in voller Schöne,
- zu der die Freiheit Dich erzog,
- und fortan singen Deine Söhne:
- "Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!"
[edit] Unofficial translation of the French lyrics
- O Belgium, O beloved mother,
- Thine our hearts, thine our arms,
- Thine our blood, o Fatherland!
- We all swear it: thou shalt live!
- Thou shalt live, ever great and beautiful
- And thy invincible unity
- Shall have for everlasting motto:
- The King, the Law, and Justice!
[edit] Unofficial translation of the Dutch lyrics
- O beloved Belgium, O holy land of our Fathers
- Our souls and hearts to thee are consecrated.
- Accept our strength and the blood of our veins,
- Be our purpose in work and struggle.
- Prosper, O country, in harmony unbreakable;
- Be forever thyself and never servile,
- True to the word that thou shouldst fearlessly declare:
- For King, for Freedom, and for Justice.
[edit] Unofficial translation of the German lyrics
- O dear land, O Belgium's earth
- To you our heart, to you our hand
- To you our blood, the fires of home
- We swear to you, O fatherland.
- So bloom joyfully in the full beauty
- To which liberty has brought you up
- And henceforth your sons will sing -
- Up Law and King and Liberty!
