Dievs, svētī Latviju!
Template:Short description Template:Infobox anthem Template:Listen "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}"Template:Efn is the national anthem of Latvia. Created in 1873 as a patriotic song, it did not gain official status until 1920.
History
The music and lyrics were written in 1873 by Kārlis Baumanis, a teacher who was part of the Young Latvian nationalist movement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is thought that Baumanis was inspired by a popular song "Dievs, svētī Kurzemi/Vidzemi" (Template:Lit, which was modified depending on the region it was used in) that was sung to the tune of "God Save the King". Baumanis's lyrics were different from the modern ones: he used the term "Baltics" synonymously and interchangeably with "Latvia" and "Latvians", so "Latvia" was actually mentioned only at the beginning of the first verse. Later, the term "Latvia" was removed and replaced with "Baltics" to avoid a ban on the song. This has led to the misapprehension that the term "Latvia" was not part of the song until it was chosen as national anthem on June 7, 1920, and the word "Baltics" was replaced with "Latvia".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union, the singing of "Dievs, svētī Latviju" was banned. The subsequently-established Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic had its own anthem. "Dievs, svētī Latviju" was restored as the state anthem of Latvia on February 15, 1990<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> – shortly before independence on May 4.
Performance
The anthem's tune was modernized with a new F-major version that has been used since 2014; formerly, a G-major version was used on LTV's sign-on and sign-offs daily from 2011 to 2013. However, the G-major version was still played on any occasion (especially and notably, during times of mourning). The current version played on LTV for their sign-on and sign-offs daily is in the key of B-flat major.
Lyrics
Current official
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IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn | English translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| lang}}</poem> | main}}</poem> | <poem>𝄆 God bless Latvia!
Our beloved fatherland, Do bless Latvia, O do bless it! 𝄇 𝄆 Where Latvian daughters bloom, Where Latvian sons sing, Let us dance in happiness there, In our Latvia! 𝄇</poem> |
Other uses
- The Viesturdārzs park of Riga have a monument to Kārlis Baumanis with the music sheet of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} on it.
- Latvian 2 euro coins bear the inscription {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} around the edge.
See also
Notes
References
External links
- The National Anthem — the website "Welcome to Latvia" has a page about the national anthem with information, sheet music, and sound files.
- Latvia: Dievs, svētī Latviju! - Audio of the national anthem of Latvia, with information and lyrics (archive link)
- Anthem sung at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Latvia
- Anthem pipe organ recordings of Christian hymns and sung in church
Template:Latvia topics Template:Anthems of Europe Template:Authority control