{"id":22635,"date":"2015-11-19T23:00:21","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T22:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=22635"},"modified":"2017-10-24T13:28:08","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T11:28:08","slug":"aux-armes-citoyens-the-history-of-the-french-national-anthem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/aux-armes-citoyens-the-history-of-the-french-national-anthem\/","title":{"rendered":"Aux armes, citoyens ! The History of the French National Anthem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Les hymnes nationaux <\/b>(national anthems) are patriotic numbers used to tell the history, traditions, and struggles of a country and unite its citizens. Their styles vary per country – some versions are standard fanfares, some sway more toward operatic pieces, and others have difficult lyrics that are very easy to flub! As an American, I have always enjoyed my country’s anthem, and it’s great\u00a0to have so many interpretations available. Everyone has something different to add to it. That being said, I have always been a fan of France\u2019s national anthem, La Marseillaise<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This past week, just as in January with the Charlie Hebdo attacks<\/a>, La Marseillaise has been performed worldwide. After the attacks on November 13th, The Metropolitan Opera<\/a>, the Philadelphia Orchestra<\/a>, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago all performed moving renditions. English fans at Wembley were encouraged to sing along<\/a> as lyrics were displayed during the soccer match against France on Tuesday. Muslim leaders sang the piece in Paris. All of French congress<\/a> joined in to sing their anthem. Perhaps the most moving recent example of the solidarity is a 36-second clip of soccer fans singing while being evacuated<\/span><\/a> from the stadium after les attentats <\/b>(the attacks). La solidarit\u00e9 est partout <\/b>(Solidarity is everywhere). <\/span><\/p>\n

I must admit that every single time I hear this anthem, I get chills. There\u2019s something about this piece \u2014 especially when sung in a group \u2014 that makes me feel like I\u2019m part of something strong. I suppose it does help that it was first written as un chant de guerre <\/b>(a war song). That also explains why this piece is so controversial, even at the time it was written in 1792.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As la R\u00e9volution fran\u00e7aise <\/b>(The French Revolution) progressed, European leaders feared that revolutions may pop up in their own countries. La Premi\u00e8re Coalition <\/b>was an alliance that lasted from 1792 to 1797 and was founded by European monarchies against the short-lived Royaume de France<\/b> (the Kingdom of France) and eventually la Premi\u00e8re R\u00e9publique <\/b>(the French First Republic), which lasted until 1804. The coalition forces eventually entered France, and on le 25 avril, 1792, <\/b>(April 25, 1792), the mayor of Strasbourg requested that Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle compose a song to rally soldiers from all over France to fight to defend their homeland. That evening, he wrote the piece intitul\u00e9 <\/b>(titled) \u201cChant de guerre pour l\u2019Arm\u00e9e du Rhin<\/b>\u201d (War Song for the Army of the Rhine).<\/span><\/p>\n

So how did it get its name of \u201cLa Marseillaise\u201d <\/b>? By the end of May, les f\u00e9d\u00e9r\u00e9s <\/b>(volunteer troops for the French National Guard during the revolution) from Marseilles had heard the song and adopted it as their own war march. When they arrived in Paris in July singing the song, it acquired its new nickname which has stuck to the present day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you know the words to the anthem (if not – get to memorizing!)? They\u2019ve been the cause of une pol\u00e9mique <\/b>(a controversy) for years now. They lyrics make a call to Frenchmen by first asking if they hear the roars of the ferocious soldiers in the distance. These soldiers would be coming to cut the throats of their\u00a0sons and wives. It then goes on to ask the men to go to arms, form battalions, and let un sang impur <\/b>(an impure blood) water their fields. Not a very happy message…<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLa Marseillaise\u201d <\/b>was adopted as the French national anthem le 14 juillet, 1795 <\/b>(July 14, 1795) by la Convention nationale <\/b>(The National Convention). In its history, the anthem has both been banned and had its status removed under Napoleon I when he saw its power and feared a revolution against his regime. Other sources say that Rouget de Lisle may have had an affair with Napoleon\u2019s wife. That could be something you would take personally, and Napoleon was definitely in a powerful enough position to do something about it. During his reign, \u201cVeillons au Salut de l\u2019Empire\u201d<\/b> (Let\u2019s Ensure the Salvation of the Empire) was the anthem of the regime. \u201cLa Marseillaise\u201d <\/b>would eventually be re-instated for a while after the July Revolution in 1830.<\/span><\/p>\n