De Wilhelmus
English: The Wilhelmus | |
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Grand ducal anthem of ![]() | |
Lyrics | Nik Welter,1919 |
Music | Unknown, 16th century |
Adopted | 1919 |
Audio sample | |
Luxembourg Military Bandinstrumental recording (one verse) |
"De Wilhelmus"(pronounced[dəvilˈhælmus];Luxembourgishfor "The Wilhelmus" ) is thegrand ducalanthem ofLuxembourg.Lyrics for it were written in 1919 by Luxembourgish writerNik Welter,although they are not often used in official performances. Theanthem is performedwhenever a member of theGrand Ducal Familyenters or leaves an official ceremony, while the national anthem, "Ons Heemecht",is performed at national celebrations.[1]
History[edit]
"De Wilhelmus"has a common origin with the Dutch national anthem,"Het Wilhelmus",which dates back to the 16th century, although they do not use the same melody and had not done so since around that time.[1][2]Luxembourg was in apersonal unionwith theNetherlandsfrom 1815 until 1890, and the tune was played on a few official visits of members of theDutch royal familyto Luxembourg from 1883.[citation needed]"De Wilhelmus"became explicitly associated with theGrand Ducal familyin Luxembourg by the end of the 1800s, around the same time "Ons Heemecht"was being popularised.[1]
In 1915, Luxembourgish author Willy Georgen wrote the first lyrics for the anthem, to commemorate the 1815Congress of Vienna.Although his lyrics were supported byGrand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde,World War I and the 1919 abdication of Marie-Adélaïde in favour of her sisterCharlotteafter suspicions of pro-German sentiment meant Georgen's lyrics were not officially adopted.[1]
In 1919, Luxembourgish writerNik Welterwrote lyrics for the anthem for the marriage of Grand Duchess Charlotte andPrince Félixon 6 November that year. The anthem with Welter's words was first performed on 23 January 1920, Charlotte's 24th birthday,[citation needed]at theTe Deumservice atNotre-Dame Cathedralby the cathedral choir, as an "anthem for the House of Luxembourg-Nassau-Bourbon".[1][2]Around the same time, Luxembourg Cathedral organist Jean-Pierre Beicht harmonised the anthem for a four-piece choir. Welter subsequently dropped the first verse he had written for the anthem, which was marked too strongly by the events of the time, leaving it with the version of today.[2]
In 1939, half a year before theGerman invasion of Luxembourg,a slightly altered version of Willy Georgen's 1915 lyrics were published, but they did not become popular.[2]
Lyrics[edit]
Although Nik Welter's lyrics from 1919 remain today, most Luxembourgers do not know them, as typically only the melody is played on official occasions.[citation needed]
Second lyrics[edit]
Luxembourgish original[3] | IPAtranscription[a] |
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I |
1 |
Original lyrics[edit]
Luxembourgish original[2][4] | English translation[4] | German translation[citation needed] | French translation[citation needed] |
---|---|---|---|
I |
I |
I |
I |
See also[edit]
- "Ons Heemecht",the national anthem of Luxembourg
- "Het Wilhelmus",the national anthem of the Netherlands
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcde"Knowledge Bites: Ons Heemecht and De Wilhelmus – Luxembourg's Anthems".RTL Today.Retrieved2022-02-02.
- ^abcde"The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg"(PDF).Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.September 2002. pp. 107–108.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2006-06-30.
- ^"Lidderbuch"(PDF).Association des Cercles d’Étudiants Luxembourgeois.2020. pp. 106–107. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2022-01-28.Retrieved2022-02-02.
- ^abLuxfan."Luxarazzi 101: De Wilhelmus, Luxembourg's Grand Ducal Anthem".Retrieved2022-02-02.
External links[edit]
- "Les usages protocolaires de la Cour"[Protocols of the court] incl. sound file and score of "De Wilhelmus" (in French)