Himni i Flamurit

Betimi mbi flamur
English: Hymn to the Flag

National anthem of  Albania

Lyrics Asdreni, 1912
Music Ciprian Porumbescu
Adopted 1912

Music sample
Hymni i Flamurit (instrument)

Himni i Flamurit (English: Hymn to the Flag) is the national anthem of Albania. The music of the anthem was composed by the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, originally for the song "Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire" (or "E scris pe tricolor unire").[1] whereas the words were written by the Albanian poet Asdreni (Aleksandër Stavre Drenova), and are merely different from the original Romanian lyrics which Andrei Barseanu wrote for Porumbescu's piece.

History

The hymn was first published as a poem in Liri e Shqipërisë (in English: Freedom of Albania), an Albanian newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 21, 1912. The original title of the poem was "Betimi mi flamur," ("Pledge to the Flag").[2] It was later printed in a volume of poems by Drenova titled Ëndra e lotë (in English: Dreams and tears), which was published in Bucharest. According to Lasgush Poradeci's memoirs, the anthem, created by the adaptation of the text to the music, was not originally intended to be a national anthem, yet, it was so much liked from people that it was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1912, and it was under its music that the Albanian flag was raised during the Albanian Proclamation of Independence in 1912 in Vlore, Albania.[2]

Music

According to Hungarian musicologist György Ligeti, the music, composed by Porumbescu, is deeply rooted in Germanic and Austrian musical traditions, and very similar to mid 19th century Germanic songs. This is also explained by Porumbescu's musical formation, since he had studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. The view has been shared by Albanian musicologist, Ramadan Sokoli.[2]

Lyrics and translation

There are two versions of the anthem: a long and a short one. Below is the text for the long version. The second stanza is considered as refrain and is repeated at the end. The short version makes use of the first two stanzas only and repeats the last two verses of the 2nd stanza. Usually, in sportive events among national teams, the short version is the one officially used. (The original poem has three more stanzas that are not part of the anthem – which are added at the end.)

Albanian lyrics Translation
First stanza

Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar
Me një dëshir' e një qëllim,
Të gjith' atij duke iu betuar
Të lidhim besën për shpëtim.

Around our flag we stand united,
With one wish and one goal,
A sacred oath we bestow upon it
Proclaiming loyalty for our salvation.

Second stanza

Prej lufte veç ai largohet
Që është lindur tradhëtar,
Kush është burrë nuk frikësohet,
Po vdes, po vdes si një dëshmor!

From war abstains only he,
Who a traitor is born,
He who is a true man is not frightened,
But dies a martyr to the cause.

Third stanza (not usually sung)

Në dorë armët do t'i mbajmë,
Të mbrojmë atdheun në çdo kënd,
Të drejtat tona ne s'i ndajmë;
Këtu armiqtë s'kanë vënd!

With weapons in our hands a-brandished,
We will defend our fatherland,
Our sacred rights we’ll not relinquish,
The foe has no place in our land.

Fourth stanza (not usually sung)

Se Zoti vetë e tha me gojë
Që kombe shuhen përmbi dhé,
Po Shqipëria do të rrojë;
Për të, për të luftojmë ne!

For God himself proclaimed:
The nations of the earth shall wane,
And yet will live, will thrive Albania.
For her our fight won’t be in vain.

Fifth stanza (not sung)

O Flamur, flamur, shenj' e shenjtë
tek ti betohemi këtu
për Shqipërinë, atdheun e shtrenjtë,
për nder' edhe lavdimn e tu.

O Flag, flag, you sacred symbol
upon you we now swear
for Albania, our dear fatherland
for honour and your commends

Sixth stanza (not sung)

Trim burrë quhet dhe nderohet
atdheut kush iu bë therror.
Përjetë ai do të kujtohet
mbi dhe, nën dhe si një shenjtor!

Brave man is named and honoured
the one who sacrificed himself for the fatherland
Forever he will be remembered
on earth and under as a saint!

References

  1. ↑ "Himni kombëtar". Web.archive.org. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Tole, Vasil. "Edhe një herë rreth himnit tonë kombëtar". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
Himni i Flamurit
An instrumental recording of Himni i Flamurit by the United States Navy Band.
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