Land der Berge, Land am Strome

Land der Berge, Land am Strome
English: Land of the mountains, land on the river
National anthem of  Austria
Lyrics Paula von Preradović
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Adopted 1946
Music sample
Land der Berge, Land am Strome (Instrumental)

Land der Berge, Land am Strome (Land of the mountains, land on the river) is the national anthem of Austria.

Nineteen days before his death on December 5, 1791 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his last complete work, the "Freimaurerkantate", KV 623. In parts of the edition of this cantata there appeared the "Chain Song" KV623A. To this melody the Austrian National Anthem is sung. The lyrics were written by the writer Paula von Preradović. On October 22, 1946 it was declared Austria's official national anthem.

In 2005, Women's Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat stated her objection to the words 'sons', 'fraternal' and 'Fatherland' in the lyrics and proposed changes.[1] However, this was quickly dismissed as a news-item in times of little other news.

Contents

Lyrics and translation

German lyrics English translation
First stanza

Land der Berge, Land am Strome,
Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,
Land der Hämmer zukunftsreich!
Heimat bist du großer Söhne,
Volk begnadet für das Schöne,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich!

Land of mountains, land on the stream,
Land of fields, land of cathedrals,
Land of hammers, with a promising future,
You are home to great sons,
A nation thrice blessed with beauty,
Much-praised Austria,
Much-praised Austria!
Second stanza

Heiß umfehdet, wild umstritten,
Liegst dem Erdteil du inmitten
Einem starken Herzen gleich.
Hast seit frühen Ahnentagen
Hoher Sendung Last getragen,
Vielgeprüftes Österreich,
Vielgeprüftes Österreich.

Strongly feuded for, fiercely hard-fought for,
You lie in the middle of the Continent
Like a strong heart,
Since the early days of the ancestors you have
Borne the burden of a high mission,
Much tried Austria,
Much tried Austria.
Third stanza

Mutig in die neuen Zeiten,
Frei und gläubig sieh uns schreiten,
Arbeitsfroh und hoffnungsreich.
Einig laß in Bruderchören,
Vaterland, dir Treue schwören.
Vielgeliebtes Österreich,
Vielgeliebtes Österreich.

Bravely towards the new ages
See us striding, free, and faithful,
Assiduous and full of hope,
Unified, in fraternal choirs, let us
Pledge allegiance to you, Fatherland
Much beloved Austria,
Much beloved Austria.

Parody

It is said that, the same evening after Paula von Preradovic learned that her lyrics were chosen for the national anthem, her sons, Otto and Fritz Molden, composed a satirical version of the anthem.

German lyrics English translation

Land der Erbsen, Land der Bohnen,
Land der vier Besatzungszonen,
Wir verkaufen dich im Schleich,
Vielgeliebtes Österreich!
Und droben überm Hermannskogel
Flattert froh der Bundesvogel.

Land of the peas, land of the beans,
Land of the four zones of occupation,
we sell you on the black market,
Much beloved Austria!
And up there over the Hermannskogel
gladly the federal bird flutters.

The Hermannskogel is the highest elevation within the district of Vienna.

Use in popular culture

Notes

  1. ↑ "Austrian national anthem 'sexist'". BBC news. 2005-09-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4283434.stm. Retrieved 2008-04-13. 

External links

Instrumental versions of the anthem can be found at