De Vlaamse Leeuw

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Listen to De Vlaamse Leeuw (ndl.) ? / i , in German "The Flemish Lion", is the name of the national anthem of Flanders . On July 6, 1973, it was made an anthem by decree. Hippoliet Van Peene (1811–1864) wrote the text, Karel Miry (1823–1899) composed the melody. Audio file / audio sample

Emergence

After Belgium gained its independence in 1830, the government under Charles Rogier sought a French-speaking unitary state, which was to be enforced with radical Frankonization. In 1838, the Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience (1812–1883) wrote the novel De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders) by counting Robert III. Glorified by Béthune as the hero of the battle of the spurs and the liberators of Flanders . Since then, the Flemish lion has been the symbol of the Flemish struggle for political and cultural independence.

Three days after Flanders was granted cultural autonomy by law on July 3, 1973, the Cultural Council made the song by van Peene and Miry the national anthem for the Dutch cultural community , which had been established and popular with the population since the beginning of the 20th century. On official occasions, however, only the first two verses should be sung.

On July 11, 1985, Karel Poma , Minister of Culture of the Dutch-speaking community, established the official version of the lyrics and musical notation. The key has been lowered by two tones, the text has been changed minimally. A decree dated November 7, 1990 transferred the previously valid regulations from the Dutch cultural community to the newly created Flemish community .

text

Of the total of five stanzas, only the first two are sung on official occasions. The bloodthirsty text has the character of a battle song and is of little literary value due to frequent changes of perspective and poor coherence.

The lyricist and composer knew each other as members of a Ghent amateur drama group called Broedermin en Taalyver (Brotherly Love and Language Zeal ). When folk and national songs were being discussed there - probably in July 1847 - Hippoliet van Peene wrote the text.

The influence of the German fatherland song You shouldn't have, the free German Rhine , for which Nikolaus Becker wrote the text in 1840 in view of French territorial claims, is unmistakable . This song - set to music over 120 times, in its most famous version by Robert Schumann - was extremely popular at the time and was also available in a Dutch translation by Theodor van Rijswijck from 1845.

melody

The melody presents itself as a simple (according to the pattern A1 – A2 – B1 – B2 – C1-C2-D1 – D2), but also a catchy march, for which the rhythm of double-dotted quarters is characteristic. The most frequently heard version is based on an arrangement by Jef van Hoof (1886–1959), which Hans Swinnen adapted to the requirements of the decree.

text

Text and notes of the national anthem

Dutch text

1.

Zij zullen hem niet temmen, de fiere Vlaamse Leeuw,
Al dreigen zij zijn vrijheid met kluisters en schreeuw.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen, zolang een Vlaming leeft,
Zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen, zolang een Vlaming leeft,
Zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft. (2 times)

2.

De tijd verslindt de steden, geen tronen blijven staan:
De casual sneven, een people zal nooit vergaan.
De vijand trekt te velde, omringd van doodsgevaar.
We laugh with zijn woede, de Vlaamse Leeuw is daar.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen ...

3.

Hij strijdt nu duizend jaren voor vrijheid, land en God;
En nog zijn zijne crashed into al hair jeugdgenot.
As zij hem macht'loos think en tergen met een schop,
Dan richt hij zich thrilling en vrees'lijk voor hen op.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen ...

4th

Wee hen, de onbezonnen ', the vals en vol verraad,
De Vlaamse Leeuw komt strelen en trouweloos hem slaat.
Geen enkle hand waving the hij uit 't oog reads:
En voelt hij zich met, hij stelt zijn maan en briest.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen ...

5.

Het wraak sein is Gegeven, hij is hun tergen moe;
Met vuur in 't oog, met woede jumps hij den vijand toe.
Hij Scheurt, nauseated, lost, covered with bloed en slijk
En zegepralend grijnst hij op 's vijands trillend lijk.
Zij zullen hem niet temmen ...

German translation

1.

You will not tame him, the proud Flemish lion,
Even if they threaten his freedom with shackles and shouting.
You won't tame him as long as a flame lives
As long as the lion has claws, as long as he has teeth.
(Refrain) They won't tame him as long as a flame lives
|: As long as the lion has claws, as long as he has teeth. : | (2 times)

2.

Time devours the cities, no throne stands still:
The armies perish, a people do not perish.
The enemy goes to the field, surrounded by danger of death.
We laugh at his anger, the Flemish lion is here!
You won't tame him ... • Refrain

3.

For a thousand years he has been fighting for freedom, land and God;
And his powers are still of handsome youth.
If they think he is powerless and tease him with kicks,
Then he stands up threateningly and terribly in front of them.
You won't tame him ... • Refrain

4th

Woe to him, the reckless, who is wrong and a traitor,
Come to stroke the Flemish lion and strike him faithlessly.
Not a gesture that he loses sight of:
And if he feels hit, his mane turns and he roars.
You won't tame him ... • Refrain

5.

The sign of vengeance has been given; he is weary of their blows;
With fire in his eyes and full of anger, he leaps towards the enemy.
It tears, destroys, smashes, covered with blood and mud
And he grins triumphantly at the enemy's trembling corpse.
You won't tame him ... • Refrain

German post-poetry

1.

You will not tame him, the proud Flemish leu
And if they want to rule him with shackles and shouting.
You won't tame him as long as a flame lives
As long as the leu bares his teeth, as long as he lifts his claws.
You won't tame him as long as a flame lives
As long as the leu bares his teeth, as long as he lifts his claws.
As long as the leu bares his teeth, as long as he lifts his claws.

2.

Time devours the cities, no throne will stand still:
A warrior army may fall, a people will never perish.
The enemy goes to the field boldly and is near death,
His anger makes us laugh: The Flemish Leu is here!
You won't tame him as long as ...

3.

The leu has been fighting for freedom, land and God for a thousand years,
And yet he has powers as when he was young.
If they think he is powerless, kicks him,
Then he will threaten them and teach them to fear.
You won't tame him ...

4th

Woe to him who cherishes rash betrayal and falsehood,
First caress the Flemish leu and then beat him faithlessly.
Not a hand movement remains hidden from his view,
If he is hit, the mane turns and he roars.
You won't tame him ...

5.

The lion seeks revenge, is tired of their blows;
He confronts the enemy with anger and fire,
Tear it up, destroy it, tear it apart; he covered him with blood,
And he grins triumphantly when he dies in agony.
You won't tame him ...

literature

  • Hendrik Conscience : The Lion of Flanders. From the Dutch by Jens Ewald. Bastei Lübbe Verlag, Bergisch Gladbach 1996, ISBN 3-404-13745-0 .
  • Edgard Goedleven: De Vlaamse Leeuw. Folksong van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap. In the supplement to the CD De Vlaamse Leeuw. Eufoda, Leuven (year unknown).

See also

Web links