Pontifical Anthem

Pontifical Anthem and March

Sheet music for the Papal Anthem.

National anthem of   Vatican City

Also known as Marche Pontificale
Music Charles Gounod, 1869
Adopted 1949

Music sample
Inno e Marcia Pontificale (Instrumental)

The Pontifical Anthem and March (Italian: Inno e Marcia Pontificale), also known as the Papal Anthem, is the anthem played to mark the presence of the Pope or one of his representatives, such as a nuncio, and on other solemn occasions.[1] When the Vatican's flag is ceremonially raised, only the first eight bars are played.[2]

While the Papal Anthem also serves as the national anthem of the Holy See and the Vatican City State, the Vatican stresses that it "is not to be understood as a national anthem"; it is a composition whose words and music "speak to the heart of many throughout the world who see in Rome the See of Peter."[1]

History

The music was composed in 1869 by Charles Gounod, for the celebration on April 11, 1869 of Pope Pius IX's golden jubilee of priestly ordination. The purely instrumental piece in three parts,[3] originally called Marche pontificale (French for "Pontifical March"), became extremely popular from its first performance.[1][2]

On October 16, 1949, Pope Pius XII declared it the papal anthem, replacing Viktorin Hallmayer's Marcia trionfale (1857), which, being still the papal anthem when the Vatican City State was founded in 1929, had been treated also as the new state's anthem. Gounod's Marche Pontificale was first performed in this new role during a ceremony on Christmas Eve of 1949, one day before the opening of the Holy Year 1950. The old anthem too was played for a last time, almost as a token of respect.[1]

At that time, Antonio Allegra (1905–1969), who was then one of the organists of St. Peter's Basilica, wrote Italian lyrics[4] for Gounod's music. Other lyrics have been composed for the music in various languages and by different authors.[4] Some of these versions are not directly related to the papacy, e.g. Rudy Villanueva's Cebuano prayer, Yutang Tabonon ("Beloved Land"), for protection for the Philippines nation. In 1991, Raffaello Lavagna of Savona (born 1918) wrote Latin lyrics for a four-voice choir, on an arrangement by Alberico Vitalini.[3]

Italian lyrics by Allegra (1949)

Original Italian[4]
 
Roma immortale di Martiri e di Santi,
Roma immortale accogli i nostri canti:
Gloria nei cieli a Dio nostro Signore,
Pace ai Fedeli, di Cristo nell'amore.
 
A Te veniamo, Angelico Pastore,
In Te vediamo il mite Redentore,
Erede Santo di vera e santa Fede;
Conforto e vanto a chi combatte e crede,
 
Non prevarranno la forza ed il terrore,
Ma regneranno la Verità, l'Amore.
An English translation[4]
 
O Rome immortal of Martyrs and Saints,
O immortal Rome, accept our praises:
Glory in the heavens to God our Lord,
And peace to men who love Christ!
 
To You we come, Angelic Pastor,
In You we see the gentle Redeemer,
The Holy Heir of true and holy Faith;
Comfort and refuge of those who believe and fight.
 
Force and terror will not prevail,
But Truth and Love will reign.

Latin lyrics by Lavagna (1991)

Original Latin[4]
 
CHORUS
O felix Roma – o Roma nobilis:
Sedes es Petri, qui Romae effudit sanguinem,
Petri cui claves datae sunt regni caelorum.
Pontifex, Tu successor es Petri;
Pontifex, Tu magister es tuos confirmans fratres;
Pontifex, Tu qui Servus servorum Dei,
hominumque piscator, pastor es gregis,
ligans caelum et terram.
Petre, Tu Christi es Vicarius super terram,
rupes inter fluctus, Tu es pharus in tenebris;
Tu pacis es vindex, Tu es unitatis custos,
vigil libertatis defensor; in Te potestas.
VOX ACUTA, VOX ALTERA AB ACUTA
Tu Pontifex, firma es petra, et super petram
hanc aedificata est Ecclesia Dei.
VOX MEDIA, VOX GRAVIS
Petre, Tu Christi es Vicarius super terram,
rupes inter fluctus, Tu es pharus in tenebris;
Tu pacis es vindex, Tu es unitatis custos,
vigil libertatis defensor; in Te potestas.
CHORUS
O felix Roma – O Roma nobilis.
An English translation

CHOIR
O happy Rome - O noble Rome
You are the seat of Peter, who shed his blood in Rome,
Peter, to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven were given.
Pontiff, You are the successor of Peter;
Pontiff, You are the teacher, you confirm your brethren;
Pontiff, You who are the Servant of the servants of God,
and fisher of men, are the shepherd of the flock,
linking heaven and earth.
Peter, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.
SOPRANOS, ALTOS
Pontiff, you are the unshakable rock, and on this rock
was built the Church of God.
TENORS, BASSES
Peter, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.
CHOIR
O happy Rome - O noble Rome.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Pontifical Anthem and its History. From the official site of Vatican City State. Accessed on 2009-06-21.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pontifical Anthem and its History (in Italian). From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Score for choir of four voices by Alberico Vitalini with original Latin text by Monsignor Raffaello Lavagna. From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Inno Pontificio lyrics, with brief historical notes and MIDI file. From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.

Media

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External links