My Belarusy

The "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus" (Belarusian: Дзяржаўны гімн Рэспублікі Беларусь, Dzjaržawny himn Respubliki Bjelarusj), also known as "My Bjelarusy" (Belarusian and Russian: Мы, беларусы; "We Belarusians"), is the national anthem of Belarus. It is officially titled as It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.[1] The music of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzny,[2] were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002. The lyrics now speak of a friendly Belarus, honoring past military battles and looking forward to the future. The music was kept due to the historical connections it has to Belarus.

Dziaržawny himn Respubliki Bjelarusj

English: State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
Дзяржаўны гімн Рэспублікі Беларусь
National anthem of  Belarus
Also known as	Мы, беларусы (English: We, Belarusians)
Lyrics	Michas Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzny, 2002
Music	Njescjer Sakalowski, 1944
Adopted	24 September 1955 (music) 2 July 2002 (lyrics)
Preceded by	"State Anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic"
Audio sample
"My Bjelarusy" (instrumental) file help

Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR

"My Biełarusy" was originally used as the anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic starting from 24 February 1955. The original anthem was composed by Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Maxim Klimkovich. It was presented in front of a jury in 1944, but it took 11 years of modifications before it was officially adopted.[3] Soon after Belarus became an independent country, the national anthem was modified to drop the Communist-era lyrics. An attempt was made in 1995 to adopt Natallia Arsiennieva's poem "O God Almighty" as the national anthem, but the suggestion was not acted on even though it was supported by a parliamentary committee.[4]

Anthem of the Republic of Belarus

The only legal mention of a national anthem in Belarusian law before 2002 was in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Section One, Article 19 of the constitution states that "The symbols of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign state shall be its national flag, national emblem and national anthem." While the constitution only mentioned the use of the flag, national anthem, and arms as state symbols, each symbol had to be defined by law.[5] A law specifying a national anthem was not enacted until Presidential Decree 350 took effect on 18 July 2002, the day before Belarus's independence day. The decree's main objective was to establish lyrics for the anthem and introduce musical notation along with the new lyrics. Moreover, the decree designated when, where, and how the anthem was to be performed.[6]

According to the newspaper Soviet Byelorussia, President Lukashenko decided on the anthem on 12 June 2002 and chose to have its first performance on 3 July—Belarusian independence day, the anniversary of the date in 1944 when the Wehrmacht was driven away from Minsk by the Red Army.[7] However, the first performance actually took place on 2 July at a concert organized by the government as part of the Belarusian independence festivities.

When Lukashenko issued his decree selecting a new national anthem, only slight changes were made to the Soviet-era hymn. While the references to Russia, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Lenin were replaced; the overall theme of "friendship of peoples" and the original music composed by Sakałoŭski were preserved. The government decided to keep Sakałoŭski's music in order to maintain historical continuity, and also on account of its popularity and musical quality.[8] After the national anthem was adopted, the process of adopting national symbols was completed.[8]

Reaction

The organization Freedom House commented on the adoption of the anthem in a report about the country, published in 2003. On page 125 of the "Country Report of Belarus", Freedom House says that President Lukashenko has "reintroduced the state symbols used by the old Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 2002, the president approved a streamlined version of the Soviet-era anthem "My Belarusy" ("We Belarusians"), as the country's new national anthem." The report also mentioned President Lukashenko's ban of the symbols that were used since Belarus's independence in 1991, such as the Pahonia arms and the white, red, white flag, which Lukashenko claims are associated with fascism (because the pro-Nazi Belarusian Central Rada in World War II used these symbols).[9] In 2003, Dr. Taras Kuzio wrote in Radio Free Europe that President Lukashenko "is the quintessential Soviet Belarusian patriot who presides over a regime steeped in Soviet nostalgia." Kuzio said that the motives of Russia and Belarus in re-adopting Soviet-era symbols are part of restoring that nostalgia.[10]

Regulations

The anthem must be performed in accordance with the lyrics and sheet music established by law. Every day, all radio and television stations across the country are required to play the national anthem upon signing on at 6 a.m. and again upon signing off (usually around midnight). The anthem can also be performed on certain occasions, such as at government meetings, before sporting events and presidential inaugurations. While the anthem is being performed, citizens are required to stand at attention and those in military or police uniform must salute.[11]

Vajacki marš

Main article: Vajacki marš

"Vajacki Marš" (March of the Warriors) was the official anthem of the Belarusian Democratic Republic,[12] a Belarusian state that was created in 1918 but lasted only 10 months,[13] during World War I.

Since 1919, the song has been used as an anthem of Belarus by Belarusian emigrant communities in Western Europe and North America. It is still considered the official anthem used by the government-in-exile of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.[14]

Other songs

Mahutny Boža, a religious hymn, is also actively used by those who oppose the Lukashenko Government.[12]

A favourite in the anthem competition was the poem called Young Belarus (Маладая Беларусь) by Janka Kupala. However, the poem was never set to a musical composition so Young Belarus could not be selected as the anthem.[15]

Lyrics

Belarusian	Belarusian – IPA transcription	Russian	English
Мы, беларусы – мірныя людзі, Сэрцам адданыя роднай зямлі, Шчыра сябруем, сілы гартуем Мы ў працавітай, вольнай сям’і. Прыпеў: Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя, Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз! 𝄆 Наша любімая маці-Радзіма, Вечна жыві і квітней, Беларусь! 𝄇 Разам з братамі мужна вякамі Мы баранілі родны парог, У бітвах за волю, бітвах за долю Свой здабывалі сцяг перамог! Прыпеў Дружба народаў – сіла народаў – Наш запаветны, сонечны шлях. Горда ж узвіся ў ясныя высі, Сцяг пераможны – радасці сцяг! Прыпеў[16][17]	[mɨ | bʲe̞ɫ̪ärus̪ɨ | mʲirn̪ɨjä l̪ʲud̻͡z̪ʲi |] [s̪e̞rt̻͡s̪äm äd̪ːän̪ɨjä ro̞d̪n̪äj z̪ʲäml̪ʲi |] [ʂʈ͡ʂɨrä s̪ʲäbruje̞m | s̪ʲiɫ̪ɨ ɣärt̪uje̞m] [mɨw prät̻͡s̪ävʲit̪äj | vo̞l̪ʲn̪äj s̪ʲämji ‖] [prɨpʲe̞w] [s̪ɫ̪äws̪ʲä | z̪ʲäml̪ʲi n̪äʂäj s̪ʲvʲe̞t̪ɫ̪äje̞ imʲä |] [s̪ɫ̪äws̪ʲä | n̪äro̞d̪äw brät̪e̞rs̪kʲi s̪äjus̪ ‖] 𝄆 [n̪äʂä l̪ʲubʲimäjä mät̻͡s̪ʲi räd̻͡z̪ʲimä |] [vʲe̞ʈ͡ʂn̪ä ʐɨvʲi ji kvʲit̪n̪ʲe̞j | bʲe̞ɫ̪ärus̪ʲ ‖] 𝄇 [räz̪äm z̪‿brät̪ämʲi muʐn̪ä vʲäkämʲi] [mɨ bärän̪ʲil̪ʲi ro̞d̪n̪ɨ päro̞x |] [w‿bʲit̪vaɣ z̪ä vo̞l̪ʲu | bʲit̪vaɣ z̪ä d̪o̞l̪ʲu] [s̪vo̞j z̪d̪äbɨväl̪ʲi s̪ʲt̻͡s̪ʲäx pe̞rämo̞x ‖] [prɨpʲe̞w] [d̪ruʐbä n̪äro̞d̪äw s̪ʲiɫ̪ä n̪äro̞d̪äw] [n̪äʐˑz̪äpävʲe̞t̪n̪ɨ | s̪o̞n̪ʲe̞ʈ͡ʂn̪ɨ ʂl̪ʲäx ‖] [ɣo̞rd̪ä ʐ‿uz̪ʲvʲis̪ʲäw jäs̪n̪ɨjä vɨs̪ʲi |] [s̪ʲt̻͡s̪ʲäx pʲe̞rämo̞ʐn̪ɨ räd̪äs̪ʲt̻͡s̪ʲi s̪ʲt̻͡s̪ʲäx ‖] [prɨpʲe̞w][lower-alpha 1]	Мы, белорусы – мирные люди, Сердцем преданные родной земле. Искренне дружим, силы закаляем, Мы в трудолюбивой, свободной семье. Припев: Славься, земли нашей светлое имя, Славься, народов братский союз! 𝄆 Наша любимая мать-Отчизна, Вечно живи и цвети, Беларусь! 𝄇 Вместе с братьями храбро веками Мы защищали родной порог, В битвах за волю, битвах за долю Свое добывали знамя побед! Припев Дружба народов – сила народов – Наш заветный, солнечный путь. Гордо ж возвейся в ясные выси, Знамя победное – радости флаг! Припев[18]	We, Belarusians, are peaceful people, Wholeheartedly devoted to our Motherland. We are faithful friends, growing up Living in a hardworking and independent family. Chorus: Glory to the blessed name of our land, Glory to the brotherly union of peoples! 𝄆 Our dearly beloved Motherland, May you live long and prosper, Belarus! 𝄇 Together with our brothers, we for centuries Courageously defended our home's threshold. In battles for freedom, and battles for our lot We have won our banners of victory! Chorus Friendship of peoples is the strength of peoples And it is our sacred sunlit path. Proudly we fly in the clear blue skies, The banner of victory, the sunshine's flag! Chorus[19]

Sheet music

• 
  Vocal, page one
• 
  Vocal, page two
• 
  Instrumental, page one
• 
  Instrumental, page two

Notes

1. For more information, see Belarusian phonology and Help:IPA/Belarusian. Much of the transcription is based on sources from these articles, therefore passes WP:NOR.

References

1. "Belarus – My Belarusy". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
2. "a page on the anthem that includes a vocal version". The Website of the President. President of the Republic of Belarus. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13.
3. СКАЛАБАН, Виталий (2001-01-09). Когда авторы будут вскрыты.... Беларусь Сегодня (in Russian). Советская Белоруссия. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
4. "The National Anthem of Belarus". A Belarus Miscellany. 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12.
5. "Constitution of Belarus, Section 1". Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
6. "Указ № 350 ад 2 лiпеня 2002 г." (in Belarusian). 2002-07-02. Archived from the original on 2008-03-04.
7. МАСЛЮКОВА, Людмила (2002-07-12). Конкурс гимна: решающее мнение. Советская Белоруссия (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
8. "State System — State Symbols". President of the Republic of Belarus. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
9. "Country Report of Belarus" (PDF). Nations in Transit. Freedom House. 2003. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
10. Kuzio, Taras (2003-08-13). "Attitudes to Soviet past reflect nostalgia, pragmatism" (PDF). Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
11. Law of the Republic of Belarus. On National Symbols of the Republic of Belarus. Passed July 5, 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
12. "National anthems of Great Litva". Heraldica Litvaniae. 2003. Archived from the original on 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
13. Birgerson, Susanne Michele (2002). After the Breakup of a Multi-Ethnic Empire. Praeger/Greenwood. p. 101. ISBN 0-275-96965-7.
14. Дзяржаўныя сымбалі Беларускай Народнай Рэспублікі [State Symbols of the Belarusian Democratic Republic] on the official website of the Rada BNR
15. "Belarus — The National Anthem". 1997. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
16. https://www.gl5.ru/gimn-respubliki-belarus.html
17. Ванина, Ольга (2017-09-05). Герб, флаг, гимн. Государственные символы Республики Беларусь. ISBN 9785040448951.
18. "Гимн Республики Беларусь текст песни(слова)". GL5.RU, Yandex.
19. "National Symbols, Anthem". Belarusian-Chinese Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation. 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-26.

External links

• Скачать гимн Республики Беларусь
• Belarus: My Belarusy – Audio of the national anthem of Belarus, with information and lyrics
• "a page on the anthem that includes a vocal version". The Website of the President. President of the Republic of Belarus.
• "Decree 350 (President Lukashenko's decree selecting "My Belarusy" as the official national anthem)" (in Belarusian). 2002-07-02. Archived from the original on 2008-03-04.
• "Sovetskaya Belorussiya – An article on the selection process" (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 2012-07-30.
• "Recordings of the Belarusian anthem". Archived from the original on 2005-05-24.