Music and performance Archives - AnthemsNational

Blog Music and performance

Anthems Written During the War

Judith Stanberry05/18/202403/31/2025

Hymns written during war have a special meaning for every nation as they become symbols of struggle, patriotism and hope.…

Blog Music and performance

Unusual Occurrences of Hymns on World Stages

Judith Stanberry02/03/202403/31/2025

At international sporting events there are often unusual episodes related to the singing of national anthems reflecting the political and…

Blog Music and performance

National Anthems Inspired by Folk Music

Judith Stanberry12/15/202303/31/2025

Many national anthems have their roots in folk music, as folk songs reflect the spirit of the people, their traditions…

Blog Music and performance

Estonian and Finnish National Anthems: Common Music, Different Lyrics

Judith Stanberry11/19/202103/31/2025

Estonia and Finland have a unique musical connection, as both countries use the same melody for their national anthems, although…

Blog Music and performance

Why are Some Hymns Difficult to Sing?

lenfisobro198103/31/202103/31/2025

An anthem is more than just a song; it is a symbol of a nation, an expression of its history,…

The first national anthem

National anthems have been around for over 200 years. The very first anthem that became official was approved in Denmark in 1844. It was “Der er et yndigt land” (There is such a beautiful country), which is still the official anthem of Denmark.

The anthem with the longest history

Japan's anthem, “Kimi ga Yo”, is one of the oldest anthems in the world. It was adopted officially in 1869, but its origins date back to a Japanese poetic work that dates back to the 9th century.

Anthem without text

Many countries have a text for their anthem, but there are some that do not have a text. For example, Bosnia and Herzegovina's anthem is called “Jedna si jedina” (One you), and although there is music, the text was rejected during discussions.

Famous composers of hymns

Some hymns were written by famous composers. For example, the German anthem was written by Franz Joseph Haydn, and the Austrian anthem was written by the same composer who wrote the “European Union Anthem”!

The anthem with the longest title

The official anthem of Lebanon is called “Koli mayat mina alayi, sharifi” (Our eyes are on your path). It is considered the longest anthem by name, as it can be translated in Arabic as “Let us go up, dear earth!”