National Anthem Comparison
Austria vs Switzerland
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
105
105 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Austria and Switzerland, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Austria's "Federal Hymn of the Republic of Austria" was written in 1946, while Switzerland's "Swiss Psalm" dates to 1841.
Both anthems share themes of nature. Austria additionally explores hope, unity and ancestors / heritage, while Switzerland also touches on god / faith and freedom.
The emotional tones differ: Austria's anthem is majestic, while Switzerland's is prayerful.
Switzerland's anthem predates Austria's by 105 years, having been written in 1841 compared to 1946.
Austria changed its national anthem in 2012, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Austria
🌿 Nature 🌅 Hope 🤝 Unity 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Switzerland
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature 🕊 Freedom
Shared themes:
🌿 Nature
Metadata
| Austria | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1946 | 1841 |
| Adopted | 1947 | 1981 |
| Lyricist | Paula von Preradović | Leonhard Widmer |
| Composer | Johann Holzer / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (disputed) | Alberich Zwyssig |
| Language | de | de |
| Region | Western Europe | Western Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Austria
Bundeshymne der Republik Österreich
Original
Land der Berge, Land am Strome,
Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,
Land der Hämmer, zukunftsreich.
Heimat großer Töchter und Söhne,
Volk, begnadet für das Schöne,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich.
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.
Mutig in die neuen Zeiten
Frei und gläubig sieh uns schreiten
Arbeitsfroh und hoffnungsreich.
Einig lass in Jubelchören,
Vaterland, dir Treue schwören,
Vielgeliebtes Österreich,
Vielgeliebtes Österreich.
Translation
Land of mountains, land by the river,
Land of fields, land of cathedrals,
Land of hammers, with a promising future!
Homeland of great daughters and sons,
A people gifted for the beautiful,
Much-praised Austria,
Much-praised Austria!
Hotly contested, fiercely disputed,
You lie at the heart of the continent
Like a strong heart.
Since the early days of our ancestors
You have borne the burden of a high mission,
Much-tested Austria,
Much-tested Austria.
Boldly into the new ages,
Free and full of faith, see us striding,
Joyful in our work and full of hope.
United let us in jubilant chorus,
Fatherland, swear our loyalty to you,
Much-beloved Austria,
Much-beloved Austria.
Switzerland
Schweizerpsalm
Original
Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh'ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find'ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such'ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Translation
When you come forth in the red of dawn,
I see you in a sea of radiance,
You, most exalted, glorious one!
When the Alpine snowfields glow red,
Pray, free Swiss, pray!
Your pious soul senses
Your pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you come in the evening glow,
I find you in the host of stars,
You, friend of mankind, loving one!
In heaven's bright expanses
I can dream in joy and bliss!
For the pious soul senses
For the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you drift in a veil of mist,
I seek you in the sea of clouds,
You, unfathomable, eternal one!
Out of the gray vapors
The sun steps forth, clear and mild,
And the pious soul senses
And the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you ride in the wild storm,
You yourself are our refuge and shield,
You, almighty ruler, savior!
In the night of thunder and dread
Let us trust in Him like children!
Yes, the pious soul senses,
Yes, the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
Interesting facts
Austria
- 1. The melody was long attributed to Mozart because it was published together with his Little Masonic Cantata (1791); today it is attributed to Johann Baptist Holzer or to the Moravian composer Pavel Vranický.
- 2. Paula von Preradović, who wrote the lyrics, was born in Vienna, a granddaughter of the Croatian writer Petar Preradović, and grew up in Pola (now Pula) on the Adriatic. In 1944 the Gestapo arrested her and her husband because their son Fritz Molden was in the resistance.
- 3. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) opposed the 2012 change in parliament. At the party's New Year meeting in January 2023 its leaders sang the old line 'Heimat bist du großer Söhne' ('home of great sons'), and party leader Herbert Kickl said a Freedom Party chancellor would change it back.
Switzerland
- 1. The Swiss Society for the Common Good (SGG) ran a competition for new lyrics to the same melody: 208 entries arrived by June 2014, and a winning text by Werner Widmer was announced in September 2015. It has not replaced the official Swiss Psalm.
- 2. Composer Alberich Zwyssig was a Cistercian monk at Wettingen Abbey. For Widmer's poem he adapted a church piece he had composed in 1835 on the psalm text 'Diligam te Domine' (I will love thee, O Lord).
- 3. In a 2000 survey of 555 people in German- and French-speaking Switzerland, only 3 percent could sing the whole anthem, though one in three knew the first stanza by heart.
- 4. Between 1894 and 1953 there were repeated proposals to make the Swiss Psalm the national anthem. The Federal Council turned them down, holding that an anthem should be chosen by the people, not imposed by decree.
Listen
Austria
Switzerland
