The Swiss Psalm

On 1 August, the national anthem is sung and played all over the country.

The Swiss Psalm ‘Tritts im Morgenrot daher’ is one of the very few national anthems that calls on its citizens to pray. This privilege of gathering together to pray for the protection and blessing of the people and the fatherland is unique.

The origin of the Swiss Psalm

The origin of the Swiss Psalm is probably only known to a few Swiss people. The history of its creation takes us back to the years before the founding of our federal state in 1848. The Swiss Psalm was not commissioned by the government, nor was there a national commission of experts.

The most important and most beautiful things are rarely created by the state, but mostly on the private initiative of active people from among the people. The lyrics and melody of our current national anthem are the joint work of two men who could not have been more different: The Uri Catholic Father Alberik Zwyssig and the Zurich Reformed Leonhard Widmer. The two men share a great love of singing and music. This led to a friendship and collaboration that transcended all social and denominational differences.

As is so often the case, music had a unifying effect. In the summer of 1841, Widmer sent his musical friend the patriotic song text to set to music.

It is no longer possible to determine exactly how Widmer and Zwyssig agreed on the notes and text. The resulting Swiss Psalm was premiered on 22 November 1841 in the patrician house Hof St. Karl, Salesianum in Zug. Father Alberik Zwyssig lived in Oberwil from 1841 to 1846 after the abolition of the monastery in Wettingen.

In 1961, the Federal Council decided that the Swiss Psalm would be the new official national anthem. In 1981, after a trial period, the Swiss Psalm finally became the national anthem. The fact that this anthem, in contrast to the somewhat martial old national anthem ‘Rufst Du mein Vaterland’, does not glorify violence and feats of arms, but rather the love of God, homeland and natural beauty, was particularly appreciated. Switzerland has a national anthem with a distinctly sacred, choral character, which has even been included in church hymnals.

Isn’t it remarkable and cause for celebration that our Switzerland also deviates from the norm in this respect?
The whole anfina team wishes you all a happy 1st August and sings along loudly:

You come in the dawn,
I see you in the sea of rays,
You, you exalted, marvellous one!
When the Alpine firn reddens,
Pray, free Swiss, pray!
Your pious soul suspects
Your pious soul knows
God in the honourable fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the honourable fatherland.

anfina