New text for the Swiss national anthem

The Swiss hymn finally in English
As 500,000 Swiss abroad as well as residents in Switzerland are native English speakers, the new text proposed for the Swiss national anthem has been translated not only into the four official Swiss languages but also into English.

In 2015, more than 200 artists took part in a competition to create a new text for the Swiss national anthem. The competition was initiated by the Swiss Society for Common Good (SSCG). The winner text is written by Werner Widmer. The new hymn text to the traditional melody of the Swiss national anthem is based on the Swiss core values expressed in the preamble of the Swiss Federal Constitution.

The English version – a synthesis
As 500,000 Swiss abroad and residents in Switzerland are native English speakers, the new text proposed for the Swiss national anthem has been translated not only into the four official Swiss languages but also into English. Many thanks to the artists who created the English version of the new hymn: Susan Schell, Robert Celik, Ron Ovadia, Daniel Paladini, Vanni Bianconi, Dominik Wawer, Pe?a Risti? and Vladimir Petrovi?. This is the new English text proposed for the Swiss national anthem:

White cross on a shining red,
woven by a common thread:
freedom, independence, equality.
Open to the world in solidarity,
Swiss are one in peace and diversity.
Free are we who freely speak,
strong as we protect the weak.
White cross on a shining red,
sign of Switzerland, the path we tread.

All Swiss clubs around the world are invited to sing the new hymnal text at their celebrations on August 1. If celebrations are not possible because of the Corona virus, everyone is invited to sing the anthem at home.
Click on this link to see the scores of the Swiss national hymn

You can also listen to the Swiss Youth Choir who sings the new text in the four official Swiss languages : www.sgg-ssup.ch/de/videos.html

If you record your singing of the anthem, please send us your video. The best videos will be shown on the website www.swiss-national-anthem.ch.

Other countries also change their National anthem
As soon as the new hymn text is known enough, the Swiss electorate will be asked to determine it. Most national anthems were composed in the 19th century when the majority of nation states were founded. The texts commonly refer to topics such as war, heroes, victories and blood, which explains the initiatives in several countries to change the words of their national anthems. Switzerland’s current national anthem, the Swiss Psalm, is a prayer, written by Leonhard Widmer in 1840.

Many Swiss citizens want to change this text because they believe that the national anthem should be a chance to anchor constitutional values in the popular consciousness. Many countries have already changed the text of their hymn (e.g. Germany and Austria). And in many countries, initiatives for a new hymn are on their way :

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France:[nbsp]www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/trois-raisons-de-changer-d-hymne-national_1666876.html

Canada:[nbsp]www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/15/canada-national-anthem-lyrics-gender-neutral-parliament

USA:[nbsp]www.change.org/p/the-congressional-black-caucus-change-america-s-national-anthem-from-the-star-spangled-banner-to-america-the-beautiful-a-civil-rights-issue