Het Wilhelmus

Het Wilhelmus
Title in German	Wilhelm
country	Netherlands
Usage period	officially since 1932
text	unknown
melody	Adriaen Valerius
Sheet of music
Audio files

Het Wilhelmus ("Das Wilhelm [lied]"), also called Geusenhymne , is the national anthem of the Netherlands . The version derived from it De Wilhelmus ("Der Wilhelm") is also the hymn of the grand ducal family of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg .

history

Whether it is the oldest national anthem in the world is controversial, but ultimately a question of definition . If one defines a national anthem as a unity of melody and text, then Het Wilhelmus is probably the oldest in the world, sung from the 16th century. However, it has only been the official national anthem of the Netherlands since 1932.

The oldest publication of the “Wilhelmus” melody by Adrianus Valerius in “Nederlandtsche Gedenck-Clanck”, 1626

The text was written by an unknown author between 1568 and 1572 in honor of William I of Orange-Nassau during the uprising against the Spanish (also known as the Eighty Years War ). There are various hypotheses in research on the question of authorship. From the vicinity of Wilhelm of Orange, Philips van Marnix is often named as the alleged author, and occasionally Dirck Volkertszoon Coornhert , while Bram Maljaars' 1996 dissertation based on stylistic and linguistic evidence led to the assumption that the text was originally written by Dutch emigrants in a High German dialect has been written. On the other hand, the historian Gudrun Dekker came to the conclusion in 2008 that Marnix van Sint Aldegonde was the author. The melody was first published in 1626 by Adriaen Valerius in his "Neder-Landtsche Gedenck-Clanck". It originally goes back to the soldier's song "O la folle entreprise du prince de Condé", which originated in the Huguenot Wars and, from the point of view of a Catholic soldier , mocked Louis I. de Bourbon, prince de Condé , the leader of the Huguenot army during the unsuccessful siege of Chartres 1568. In Michael Praetorius ' Terpsichore , a collection of 312 instrumental dances published in 1612, “Wilhelm von Nass.” Appears as a four-part dance piece under No. 185, with a slightly modified melody.

The oldest known print of the Dutch text to date is a copy of the Geuzenliedboek dated 1576/77 in the Lower Saxony State and University Library in Göttingen . The oldest surviving High German version can be found in a song pamphlet published in Strasbourg from 1573 with the title Ein schön neüw Lied / von dem Printzen von Vranien. Wilhelm von Nassawe / I am from Teütschem blood. Jm Thon. How to sing the song of the Count of Rome.

When the Netherlands became a kingdom in 1815, this piece was not chosen as the national anthem because it was too closely linked to the party that backed the House of Orange-Nassau . Rather, due to a competition, Vienna Neêrlands Bloed was chosen as the national anthem. The popularity of Het Wilhelmus never waned, and on May 10, 1932 it was finally promoted to the national anthem.

text

Adriaen Thomasz Key: Wilhelm I of Orange-Nassau (around 1575)

Usually only the first stanza of the hymn is sung, but the sixth stanza is also sung for festive occasions.

The hymn is an acrostic ; that is, the first letters of the fifteen stanzas result in the original name Willem van Nassov .

The current version differs from the original version mainly in the more modern spelling and the formation of forms, which, however, still reflect a historical state of language development (19th century) and do not entirely correspond to today's grammar of Dutch.

Original text 1568	Translation 1582	Standard version today
First verse
W ilhelmus van Nassouwe Ben ick van Duytschen bloet Den Vaderlant getrouwe Blyf ick dead in the doet: Een Prince van Oraengien Ben ick vrij onverveert, Den Coninck van Hispaengien Heb ick altijt gheeert.	W ilhelmus von Nassawe I am of German blood, the fatherland getrawe, I will stay until death, A printze of Urania I am frey and experienced, I have always honored the king of Hispania .	W ilhelmus van Nassouwe ben ik, van Duitsen bloed, den vaderland getrouwe blijf ik dead in the dood. Een Prinse van Oranje ben ik, vrij onverveerd, den Koning van Hispanje heb ik altijd geëerd
Second stanza
I n Godes vrees te leven Heb ick altyt considered, Daerom ben ick twist Om Landt om Luyd ghebracht: Maer God sal mij active As een goet instrument, Date ick zal wederkeeren In my regiment.	I n God Forcht to live, I alzeit considered, this cause I am expelled, mod country and brought leut, But Got sol me govern, as a good instrument, I like that resist return, wol in my regiment.	I n Godes vrees te leven heb ik altijd contemplated, daarom ben ik verdreven, om land, om luid brought. Maar God zal mij regeren as een goed instrument, dat ik zal wederkeren in mijnen regiment.
Third verse
L ydt u myn Ondersaten Die oprecht zyn van aert, Godt sal u niet verlaten Al zijt ghy nu beswaert: Die vroom begheert te leven Bidt Godt night end dach, Dat hy my cracht wil gheven Dat ick u help mach.	L eid you, my saucer, the reckless of kind, God will not forsake you, all complained for years now, Whoever wants to live, ask God night and day to give me strength, that I may help you.	L ijdt u, mijn onderzaten die oprecht zijt van aard, God zal u niet verlaten, al zijt gij nu bezwaard. The vroom desires te leven, bidt God night end dag, dat Hij mij kracht zal geven, dat ik u helpen mag.
Fourth verse
L yf en goet al te samen Heb ick u niet schoont, Mijn broeders hooch van Namen Hebbent u oock to music: Graef Adolff is ghebleven In Vriesland in den slaech, Syn Siel int ewich Leven oversees the youngest roof	L eib and well as together, I have saved nit, my brothers up with name, you also have verwart, Graff Adolff has remained in Friesland in the battle, be life-seel in the eternal, erwardt recent day.	L ijf en goed al te samen heb ik u niet verschoond, mijn broeders hoog van namen hebben 'tu ook vertoond: Graaf Adolf is bleven in Friesland in the slag, zijn goal in' t eeuwig leven guarded the youngest day.
Fifth verse
E del en Hooch gheboren Van Keyserlicken Stam: Een Vorst des Rijcks vercoren As een vroom Christen man, Voor Godes Woort ghepreesen Heb ick vrij onversaecht, als een Helt sonder vreesen Mijn noble bloet ghewaecht.	E del and highly born of keyserlichem stem, a prince of the kingdom chosen, as one from christenman, geprisen word for God, I frey undaunted, as a hero special challenged dared noble blood mine.	E del en hooggeboren, van keizerlijken stam, een vorst des rijks verkoren, as een vroom christenman, voor Godes woord geprezen, heb ik, vrij onversaagd, as een hero zonder vrezen mijn edel bloed gewaagd.
Sixth verse
M ijn Schilt ende betrouwen Sijt ghy, o Godt mijn Heer, Op u soo wil ick bouwen Verlaet mij nimmermeer: Date but vroom mach blijven V dienaer taller stondt, The Tyranny verdrijven, The my mijn hert doorwondt.	M a sign and my vertrawen, art thou O God, my lord, auff you so wil I bawen, I never leaving, I still like to stay from, you serve all stood, the tyranny distribute the hertz me by my sore.	M ijn schild ende betrouwen zijt Gij, o God mijn Heer, op U zo wil ik bouwen, Verlaat mij nimmermeer. Dat ik but vroom likes blijven, uw dienaar t'aller stond, de tirannie verdrijven die mij mijn hart doorwondt.
Seventh verse
V an al die my beswaren, End mijn Vervolghers zijn, Mijn Godt wilt but warden The trouwen dienaer dijn: Dat sy my niet verrasschen In haren boosen moet, Haer niet en wasschen In mijn onschuldich bloet.	V on all the complain, and be my tracker, my God wölst but bewaren, the Trewen servant yours, They nit verraschen me in jhrem evil courage, jr immediate nit do wash, in meim unschüldigen blood.	V an al die mij bezwaren en mijn vervolgers zijn, mijn God, but ware den trouwen dienaar dijn, dat zij mij niet verrassen in hunnen bozen moed, hun handen niet en wassen in mijn onschuldig bloed.
Eighth stanza
As David moeste vluchten Voor Saul den Tyran: Soo heb ick moeten searched Met menich Edelman: Maer Godt heeft hem heven raffled uit alder noot, Een Coninckrijk ghegheven In Israel seer big.	A ls David was ordered to flee before Saulo the bully, so I have to give way, edelman with many, but God thet jhn collect, redeem not from all, a given kingdom, very gros in Israel.	A ls David moeste vluchten voor Sauel den tiran, zo heb ik moeste as menig edelman. Maar God heeft hem ärven, raffled uit alder nood, een koninkrijk Gegeven in Israel zeer groot.
Ninth verse
N a tsuer sal ick ontfanghen Van Godt mijn Heer dat soet, Daer na so doet ask Mijn Vorstelick ghemoet: Dat is dat ick do this with me in the Velt, Een eewich Rijck discard as een ghetrouwe Helt.	N och Sawr I will receive, men meim from God the sweet, after that charge as does, my princely emotionally, I still might die with honor in the field, ewigs acquire a rich, than a getrewer heldt.	N a 't zuur zal ik ontvangen van God mijn Heer dat zoet, daarna zo doet require mijn vorstelijk gemoed: dat is, dat ik may sterven met eren in dat veld, een eeuwig rijk discard as a trouwen hero.
Tenth verse
N iet doet my sea mercy In mijnen wederspoet, Dan dat men siet impoverish Des Conincks Landen goet, Dat van de Spaengiaerts crencken O Edel Neerlandt soet, As ick daer aen ghedencke Mijn Edel hert dat bloet.	N othing does me more mercy widersput in mine, because that is considerate impoverished, the king's land well, The krencken you the Spaniards, o noble Niderland good, if I gedencken because my noble hertz the blood.	N iet doet mij meer mercy in mijnen wederspoed dan dat men ziet impoverish des Konings landen goed. Dat u de Spanjaards krenken, o noble Neerland zoet, as ik daaraan remember, mijn noble hart dat bloedt.
Eleventh stanza
As a prins op gheseten Met mijner Heyres cracht, Van den Tyran meten Heb ick den Slach veracht, Die by Maestricht Bevreesden mijn ghewelt, Mijn ruyters sach men draven. Seer moedich door dat Velt.	A s tied up at the printz, with my army, wanted to be measured by the enemy, I watched the battle, Mastrich was buried, feared my violence, my reuter sach man trot, very courageously through the field.	As a prins opgezeten met mijner heires-kracht, van den tiran heb ik the slag guarded, who, near Maastricht, bevreesde mijn geweld; mijn ruiters zag men draven zeer moedig door dat veld.
Twelfth stanza
S oo het the will of the armies Op the tyt had gheweest, Had ick gheern sake keeren Van v tempeest dit swear: Maer de Heer van boven here The all dinck regeert. Diemen altijd moet loven En heeftet niet begheert.	S o it is the will of the lord, if whoever has the time, i would like to return, the heavy tempest of you, but the lord up there, who rules all things, whom one must always praise, he wasn’t interested.	Z o het the will of the man op dien tijd had been, had ik geern sake keren van u dit zwaar tempeest. Maar de Heer van hierboven, all things excited, the men altijd moet loven, en heeft het niet lusterd.
Thirteenth verse
S eer Prinslick was ghedreven Mijn Princelick ghemoet, Stantvastich is ghebleven Mijn hert in teghenspoet, Den Heer heb ick ghebeden Van mijnes herten gront, Dat hy mijn saeck wil talk, Mijn onschult doen know.	S was ehr christian driven my fürstelich emotionally, standhafftig has remained widerspüt my hertz in, the lord I've asked Grundt hertzen of mine, which he set my proper Wöll, my innocence make kundt.	Z eer christlijk was gedreven mijn prinselijk gemoed, steadvastig is gebleven mijn hard in tegenspoed. The army heb ik give uit mijnes hard grond, dat Hij mijn zaak wil redden, mijn onschuld maken kond.
Fourteenth verse
O orlof mijn poor Schapen Die zijt in great noot, V Herder sal niet slapen Al zijt ghy nu verstroyt: Tot Godt wilt v begheven, Syn heylsaem Woort neemt aen, Als vrome Christians leven, Tsal here haest zijn ghedaen.	U rlaub create my poor, who will be great not, ewer hirt sol flaccid nit, and are now yrs verstrewt, to God you wölt go, be salutary word nempt on, live as devout christians, sol hie soon be done.	O orlof, mijn poor schapen the zijt in groten nood, uw herder zal niet slapen, al zijt gij nu verstrooid. Tot God wilt u besven, zijn heilzaam woord neemt aan, as vrome christen leven, 't zal here haast zijn gedaan.
Fifteenth verse
V oor Godt wil ick belijden End zijner great power, Dat ick tot gheenen tijden Den Coninck heb despises: Dan dat ick Godt den Heere The highest Mayesteyt, Heb must obedieren, Indians gherechticheyt.	V or God will I profess, and makes its large, I in no times, despised the king did, then I god the men, the highest maiestet, did have obedieren, in justice.	V oor God wil ik belijden en zijner groten makes, dat ik tot genen tijden the Koning heb despises, then dat ik God the armies, the highest majesty, must be obediëren in the righteousness.
acrostic
WILLEM VAN NASSOV	WILLEM VAN NASSUV	WILLEM VAN NAZZOV

To the first verse

The early Dutch word Duyts in the first stanza meant primarily "Dutch" and had " Germanic " as a secondary meaning . In the latter sense, it was used at that time as a counter-term to the Romance languages and their speakers, but it had no (as sometimes claimed in the Nazi era ) Pan-Germanic connotation. Around 1570, "Duyts" was not the most common or unambiguous name used by the Dutch; probably with this choice of words the poet only wanted to assure the Dutch rebels that William of Orange belonged to them and not to the Spanish Habsburgs. Since the 16th century the word “duytsch” has been subject to a constant change in meaning, so that from around 1700 it was used as a name for the Germans or as an antonym to the Romance-speaking area.

In the official version of the song from 1932, the spelling was modernized to "duitschen" (unambiguously "German"). During the German occupation of the Netherlands (1940–45) and after the Second World War, many Dutch people replaced “duitsch” with “dietsch”, a poetic expression for the Dutch language, because of anti- German hatred.

Wilhelm von Oranien was born as the son of Count Wilhelm von Nassau-Dillenburg and his wife Juliana zu Stolberg in Dillenburg in what is now Hesse ; According to today's parlance, he would be of “German blood” due to his origin and place of birth. However, his mother tongue was French and there was no political entity "Germany" in the 16th century.

To the sixth stanza

Because of the lines “Drive out the tyranny that wounded my heart”, the “Wilhelmus” was forbidden during the occupation in World War II . That is why the sixth verse is sung in addition to the first verse on festive occasions.

See also

• List of national anthems

Web links

Wiktionary: Wilhelmslied  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" (sheet music)
• Audio stream of the national anthem of the Netherlands (Real Player; 0 kB)
• De Wilhelmus Site ( Memento of April 17, 0140 in the Internet Archive ) (Dutch)
• German translation of Wilhelmus on Lyrics Translate
• Translation of the first and sixth stanzas at the Federal Agency for Civic Education , also as MP3 and PDF.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Abraham (Bram) Maljaars: Het Wilhelmus: auteurschap, catering en strekking: een critical toetsing en nieuwe interpretatie. Kok (Kampen) 1996
2. ^ "Wilhelmus" and the Germans. on: world online. April 17, 1996.
3. ^ Gudrun Anne Dekker: The national anthem "Het Wilhelmus" was written in Haarlem. Books on Demand , Norderstedt 2012 ( limited book preview on Google Books)
4. ↑ Het Wilhelmus is schreven in 1572 in Haarlem . on nu.nl
5. ^ Adrianus Valerius: Nederlandtsche Gedenck-Clanck. Kortelick openbarende de voornaemste divorced van de seventhien Neder-Landsche provintien, 't sedert den aenvang der Inlandsche beroerten end troublen, tot den iare 1625 […] , Haarlem 1626 ( limited preview in google book search)
6. ↑ Nederlandes Liederenbank (Dutch)
7. ^ Complete edition Michael Praetorius, Volume XV. Published by Friedrich Blume. Möseler Verlag Wolfenbüttel, 1929. p. 315.
8. ^ Martine de Bruin: Een nóg ouder geuzenliedboek. Signalement van de druk [1576-1577] with de oudst bekende Nederlandse Wilhelmustext. In: Louis Peter Grijp, Frank Willaert (eds.): De fiere nachtegaal. Het Nederlandse lied in de middeleeuwen. Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam 2008, ISBN 978-90-8964-021-5 , pp. 231-250 (Dutch), book preview on Google Books .
9. ^ Eberhard Nehlsen: Wilhelmus von Nassauen: Studies on the reception of a Dutch song in the German-speaking area from the 16th to the 20th century . Lit, Munster; Hamburg 1993, ISBN 3-89473-744-1 , p. 52-61 .
10. ↑ A beautiful song made in honor of the Prince of Urania. In: Joseph Bergman (Hrsg.): The Ambraser Liederbuch from 1582. Literarischer Verein zu Stuttgart 1845 (Library of the Literary Society XII), No. CXLVI, pp. 187–190 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library).
11. ↑ = fearless, fearless. In the Ambras songbook the spelling mistake is "inexperienced".
12. ↑ = subjects
13. ↑ = without fear
14. ↑ = surprise, surprise
15. ↑ = like
16. ↑ = after sour
17. ↑ In the original spelling mistake " ein ein "
18. ↑ = misfortune, misfortune
19. ↑ = sees
20. ↑ = expected
21. ↑ = at that time, then
22. ↑ = severe weather
23. ↑ = Farewell, my poor sheep
24. ↑ = are
25. ↑ = obey
26. ^ M. Jansen: Atlas van de Nederlandse taal: Editie Vlaanderen. Lannoo Meulenhoff, 2018, pp. 29–30.
27. ↑ M. Philippa, F. Debrabandere, A. Quak, T. Schoonheim and N. van der Sijs: Etymological Woordenboek van het Nederlands. Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden 2003–2009.
28. ↑ Ben ik van Duitsen / Dietsen bloed. On: onzetaal.nl
29. ^ J. Stroop: De Groene Amsterdammer: Hoe praatte ze? Amsterdam 2004.