Swiss Psalm
| English: Swiss Psalm | |
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National anthem of  Switzerland
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| Lyrics | Leonhard Widmer (German) Charles Chatelanat (French) Camillo Valsangiacomo (Italian) Flurin Camathias (Romansch) |
| Music | Alberich Zwyssig, 1841 |
| Adopted | 1961 (de facto) 1981 (de jure) |
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The Swiss Psalm (German: Schweizerpsalm [ʃvaɪtsərˈpsalm], French: Cantique suisse [kɑ̃tik sɥis], Italian: Salmo svizzero ['salmo 'zvittsero], Romansh: Psalm Svizzer [ˈpsalm ˈʒviːtser]) is the national anthem of Switzerland.
It was composed in 1841, by Alberich Zwyssig (1808–1854). Since then, it has been frequently sung at patriotic events. The Federal Council declined however on numerous occasions to accept the psalm as the official anthem. This was because the council wanted the people to express their say on what they wanted as a national anthem. From 1961 to 1981 it provisionally replaced Rufst du, mein Vaterland ("When You Call, My Country", French Ô monts indépendants; Italian Ci chiami o patria, Romansh E clomas, tger paeis), the anthem by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743–1818) which was set to the melody of God Save the Queen. On 1 April 1981, the Swiss Psalm was declared the official Swiss national anthem.
In 2014-2015, the Société suisse d’utilité publique has organized a public competition and unofficial vote to change the national anthem.
Until the end of the 19th century, there was no Swiss national anthem. The German-language patriotic song Rufst du, mein Vaterland (French Ô monts indépendants, Italian Ci chiami o patria, Romansh E clomas, tger paeis), composed in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743–1818), was the first national anthem, used until 1961. The setting of the hymn to the British tune of God Save the Queen led to confusing situations when both countries' anthems were played. Therefore, it was replaced with another tune in 1961.
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