Oben am jungen Rhein

{{Short description|National anthem of Liechtenstein}}

{{Infobox anthem

| title = {{lang|de|italic=no|Oben am jungen Rhein}}

| english_title = High on the young Rhine

| image = Liechtenstein Oben am jungen Rhein.jpg

| caption =

| prefix = National

| country = Liechtenstein

| composer = Derived from "God Save the King"

| author = Jakob Josef Jauch

| lyrics_date = 1850s

| adopted = c. 1870 (official 1920; modified in 1963)

| until =

| sound = Oben am jungen Rhein, by the U.S. Navy Band.ogg

| sound_title = U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse)}}

"{{lang|de|italic=no|Oben am jungen Rhein}}"{{efn|{{IPA|de|ˈoːbən am ˈjʊŋən ˈʁaɪn}}; {{lit}} "High on the Young Rhine"}} is the national anthem of Liechtenstein. Written in the 1850s, it is set to the melody of the British anthem, "God Save the King", which in the 19th century had been used for a number of anthems of German-speaking nations, including those of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Switzerland.

History

The original lyrics, beginning Oberst am jungen Rhein, were written in the 1850s. The song may be grouped with the German "Rhine songs", i.e. songs that celebrate the River Rhine as part of the German national patrimony, opposing the French territorial claims on the left river bank.

The text is attributed to Jakob Josef Jauch (1802–1859).{{cite web|url= http://cantorion.org/pieces/2988/Up-above-the-young-Rhine-%28Oben-am-jungen-Rhein%29|title= Up above the young Rhine (Oben am jungen Rhein)|publisher= Cantorian|access-date= 26 January 2015|archive-date= 28 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150128140522/http://cantorion.org/pieces/2988/Up-above-the-young-Rhine-%28Oben-am-jungen-Rhein%29|url-status= live}} Born in Saratov, Russia to Swiss Catholic family from Uri, Jauch studied theology in Lucerne and Chur during 1828–1832, and was consecrated as priest in 1833. He served as priest in London during 1837/8–1850. During 1852–1856, he lived in Balzers, Liechtenstein, and befriended Princess Franziska, with whom he planned a model educational institution in Balzers. Due to his progressive stance, Jauch came into conflict with the church hierarchy, and the bishop of Chur ordered him to leave Liechtenstein in 1856. If the attribution of the lyrics to Jauch is correct, the composition would likely date to Jauch's time in Balzers (1852–1856).

The lyrics were not published during Jauch's lifetime. They appeared in print, as the national anthem of Liechtenstein (Die Liechtenstein'sche National-Hymne) only after a period of oral transmission, in 1875, so that the tradition of Jauch's authorship, or the original form of his lyrics, cannot be verified.The full seven verses were printed in "Die Lichtenstein's he Nationalhymne", Süddeutsche Presse, 21 March 1875 [https://books.google.com/books?id=O6toAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA16-PA13 p. 2]. Reprinted from the Süddeutsche Presse report, but shortened to five verses: Das Echo, 16 May 1875, [https://books.google.com/books?id=wJPQ2jLkBBMC&pg=PA78 p. 78], Neue Freie Presse Wien, 23 March 1875, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aLlpAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA24-PA2 p. 2]; mentioned as "composed in the 1850s by a Catholic pastor" (in den Fünfziger-Jahren von einem katholischen Pfarrer gedichtet). The song served as Liechtenstein's unofficial, de facto national anthem from the 1870s until its official adoption in 1920.

In 1963, the text was shortened, and reference to the "German Rhine", which had been introduced in the 1920 version, was removed.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalanthems.info/li.htm|title=Liechtenstein|publisher=nationalanthems.info|access-date=26 January 2015|archive-date=18 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218062849/http://www.nationalanthems.info/li.htm|url-status=live}} Oben am jungen Rhein is the only remaining national anthem sharing the same melody with the British "God Save the King" (since the replacement of the Swiss Rufst du, mein Vaterland in 1961).{{cite web| url=http://www.classical-music.com/article/five-intriguing-national-anthems| title=Five intriguing national anthems| last=Pound| first=Jeremy| publisher=ClassicalMusic.com| date=16 February 2016| access-date=15 September 2016| archive-date=16 April 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416143450/http://www.classical-music.com/article/five-intriguing-national-anthems| url-status=dead}}{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34052000| title=How many national anthems are plagiarised?| work=BBC News| date=26 August 2015| access-date=15 September 2016| archive-date=21 September 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921235037/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34052000| url-status=live}}

Lyrics

Usually, only the first and last stanzas are sung.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

German original

!IPA transcription{{efn|See Help:IPA/German and German phonology.}}

!English translation

style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"

|Oben am jungen Rhein{{efn|Originally {{lang|de|Oberst am deutschen Rhein}} ('Highest on the German Rhine').}}

Lehnet sich Liechtenstein

An Alpenhöh'n.

𝄆 Dies liebe Heimatland,

Das teure Vaterland{{efn|Originally {{lang|de|Im deutschen Vaterland}} ('In the German fatherland').}}

Hat Gottes weise Hand

Für uns erseh'n. 𝄇

Wo einst St. Lucien

Frieden nach Rhätien

Hineingebracht

𝄆 Dort an dem Grenzestein

Und längs des jungen Rhein

Steht furchtlos Liechtenstein

Auf Deutschlands Wacht. 𝄇

Lieblich zur Sommerzeit

Auf hoher Alpenweid

Schwebt Himmelsruh:

𝄆 Wo frei die Gemse springt,

Kühn sich der Adler schwingt,

Der Senn das Ave singt

Der Heimat zu. 𝄇

Von grünen Felsenhöh'n

Freundlich es ist zu seh'n

Mit einem Blick:

𝄆 Wie des Rhein's Silberband

Säumet das schöne Land,

Ein kleines Vaterland

Von stillem Glück. 𝄇

Treu und fest, wenn schon klein

Im deutschen Reichsverein

Ruht Liechtenstein.

𝄆 Lichtvoll auf ew'gem Grund

Einig und kerngesund

In Sturm und Nacht dem Bund

Leuchtstern zu sein. 𝄇

Theilt nicht des Fürsten Herz

Väterlich Freud' und Schmerz

Mit Kindern hier?

𝄆 Nicht ihn erhält das Land —

So reichet ihm die Hand,

In unserm Vaterland

Vater und Zier! 𝄇

Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,

Blühend am jungen Rhein,{{efn|Originally {{lang|de|Blühend am deutschen Rhein}} ('Blossoming on the German Rhine''').}}

Glücklich und treu.{{efn|Originally {{lang|de|Glücklich und frei!}} ('Fortunate and free!').}}

𝄆 Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,

Hoch unser Vaterland,

Durch Bruderliebe Band

Vereint und frei. 𝄇

|

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|High on the young Rhine

Lies Liechtenstein, resting

On Alpine heights.

𝄆 This beloved homeland

The dear fatherland

God's wise hand has

Chosen for us. 𝄇

Where once St. Lucius

Peace to Raetia

Brought,

𝄆 There by the border stone

And along the young Rhine

Liechtenstein stands fearless

On guard for Germany. 𝄇

Lovely in the summer

On the high Alps' meadows

Floats heavenly quietude.

𝄆 Where the chamois leaps freely,

The eagle soars boldly,

The herdsman sings the Ave

For the native land. 𝄇

From green rocky heights

It is lovely to look at

With one gaze:

𝄆 How the Rhine's silver band

Hems the beautiful land

A small fatherland

Of silent bliss. 𝄇

Loyal and firm, even if small

In the German Empire association

Rests Liechtenstein.

𝄆 Full of light on eternal ground

United and healthy

In storm and night the union

to be a shining star. 𝄇

Does the prince's heart not share

Fatherly joy and pain

With children here?

𝄆 The country is not receiving him —

So give him your hand

In our fatherland

father and ornament! 𝄇

Long live Liechtenstein,

Blossoming on the young Rhine,{{0|—}}

Fortunate and faithful!

𝄆 Long live the Prince of the Land,

Long live our fatherland,

Through bonds of brotherly love

United and free! 𝄇

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}