Kde domov můj

"Template:Lang" (Template:IPA), known in English as "Where My Home Is", is the national anthem of the Czech Republic. It was composed by František Škroup and written by Josef Kajetán Tyl.<ref name="law 3/1993">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The piece was written as a part of the incidental music to the comedy Fidlovačka aneb Žádný hněv a žádná rvačka (Fidlovačka, or No Anger and No Brawl). It was first performed by Karel Strakatý at the Estates Theatre in Prague on 21 December 1834. The original song consists of two verses (see below). Although J. K. Tyl is said to have considered leaving the song out of the play, not convinced of its quality, it soon became very popular among Czechs and was accepted as an informal anthem of a nation seeking to revive its identity within the Habsburg monarchy.

Soon after Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, the first verse of the song became the Czech part of the national anthem, followed by the first verse of the Slovak song "Nad Tatrou sa blýska". The songs reflected the two nations' concerns in the 19th century<ref name="Auer2004">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Page needed when they were confronted with the already fervent national-ethnic activism of the Germans and the Hungarians, their fellow ethnic groups in the Habsburg Monarchy. Because of the linguistic and ethnic diversity of the First Republic, official translations were made into Hungarian and German as well.<ref name="Gössel2008">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Page needed

During World War II German-controlled Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia kept that song as its anthem.

With the split of Czechoslovakia in December 1992, the Czech Republic kept Kde domov můj and Slovakia kept Nad Tatrou sa blýska as their anthems. While Slovakia extended its anthem by adding a second verse, the Czech Republic's national anthem was adopted unextended, in its single-verse version.<ref name="law 3/1993"/>

In 1882, Antonín Dvořák used Kde domov můj in his incidental music to the František Ferdinand Šamberk play Josef Kajetán Tyl, Op. 62, B. 125. The overture is often played separately as a concert work entitled Domov můj (My Home).

Lyrics

Current official

The following are the lyrics according to Appendix 6 of Czech Act No. 3/1993 Coll., as adapted by Act No. 154/1998 Coll.

Czech original	IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:IPA</poem>

German version Template:Small	Hungarian version Template:Small
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:Lang</poem>

English translation
<poem>Where my home is, where my home is, Streams are rushing through the meadows, Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves, Orchards decked in spring's array, Scenes of Paradise portray. And this land of wondrous beauty, 𝄆 Is the Czech land, home of mine! 𝄇</poem>

Original version (1834)

Czech original	IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:IPA</poem>

English translation

<poem>I Where my home is, where my home is, Streams are rushing through the meadows, Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves, Orchards decked in spring's array, Scenes of Paradise portray. And this land of wondrous beauty, 𝄆 Is the Czech land, home of mine! 𝄇 II Where my home is, where my home is, If in heavenly land thou hast met Slender souls in spry bodies, Of clear mind, vigorous and prosperous, And with strength ruining all defiance, This glorious nation of Czechs 𝄆 Is of the Czechs, home of mine! 𝄇</poem>

National anthem of Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)

Coat of arms of the
Czechoslovak Republic

The first stanza, along with that of the current Slovak anthem "Nad Tatrou sa blýska" as the second stanza, became from 1918 to 1992 the national anthem of Czechoslovakia.

Czech and Slovak original	IPA transcriptionTemplate:Efn
<poem>Template:Lang Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:IPA</poem>

English translation

<poem>I Where my home is, where my home is, Streams are rushing through the meadows, Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves, Orchards decked in spring's array, Scenes of Paradise portray. And this land of wondrous beauty, 𝄆 Is the Czech land, home of mine! 𝄇 II 𝄆 Far above the Tatras Lightning bolts are pounding. 𝄇 𝄆 These bolts shall we banish, brothers, they will vanish; Slovaks are rebounding. 𝄇</poem>

External links

• Czech Republic: Kde domov můj? – Audio of the national anthem of the Czech Republic, with information and lyrics (archive link)
• State Symbols – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a page about state symbols that includes a copy of the music of the anthem.
• New (2008) official recordings – female solo, male solo, choir, and orchestral versions.