Mer Hayrenik

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox anthem Template:National anthems of Armenia "Our Fatherland"Template:Efn is the national anthem of Armenia. It was arranged by Parsegh Ganatchian; the lyrics were written by Mikayel Nalbandian. First adopted in 1918 as the anthem of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia, it was subsequently banned after the country was invaded by then incorporated into the Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of sovereignty in 1991, the song was re-adopted as the national anthem, albeit with slightly modified lyrics.

History

Composition

The lyrics of "Our Fatherland" were derived from "The Song of an Italian Girl" (Template:Langx Template:Translit), a poem written by Mikael Nalbandian in 1859 and published in 1861.<ref name=Waters>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Adalian>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Ghazanchyan>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the early 20th century,<ref name=Waters/> the music was composed by Parsegh Ganatchian.<ref name=Ghazanchyan/> Subsequently, both the lyrics (with changes) and music were adopted as the national anthem of the First Republic of Armenia, which briefly existed from 1918 to 1920.<ref name=Ghazanchyan/><ref name=Parsons>Template:Cite news</ref>

Soviet era

In November 1920, the Red Army invaded Armenia, in spite of the Treaty of Sèvres – which granted the country international recognition as a sovereign state – having been signed only three months earlier.<ref name=Gale>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> In 1922, it was absorbed into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (TSFSR), together with Azerbaijan and Georgia, and the TSFSR subsequently became part of the Soviet Union at the end of that same year.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> As a symbol of Armenian nationalism, the song "Our Fatherland" was outlawed by the Bolshevik authorities.<ref name=Adalian/><ref name=Parsons/> In its place, the Anthem of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was utilized from 1944 onwards.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Because of this, "Our Fatherland" took on a new status as a protest song against Soviet rule during this time.<ref name=Parsons/>

Restoration of sovereignty and beyond

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the song "Our Fatherland" was reinstated as Armenia's national anthem on 1 July 1991<ref name=Ghazanchyan/> by the constituent republic's Supreme Soviet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The lyrics are not identical to the 1918 version, however, because several words have been modified.<ref name=Waters/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As an intrinsic element of civic education in Armenia, the anthem is one of several national symbols which are featured in classrooms of the country's schools. By dignifying the song in this manner, teachers reckon that this "encourage[s] students to sing the national anthem every day".<ref>Template:Cite journal Template:Registration required</ref>

A debate of the national anthem was a question in the Armenian Parliament in 2006 and in 2019. The new government had called for the restoration of the Soviet era anthem with newer lyrics in its place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Italian violist Marco Misciagna composed the "Introduction and Variations on Mer Hayrenik” for viola solo, and in 2018, he played it during a concert at the Komitas Chamber Music House.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Lyrics

The lyrics of the national anthem promotes the worthiness of "dying for the freedom" of Armenia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Its discussion of death, however, has led several commentators to complain that the anthem is overly "wimpy" and "gloomy".<ref name=Parsons/><ref name=Mkrtchyan>Template:Cite news</ref> Specifically, some members of the National Assembly are of the opinion that the song – written at the time of the first fight for independence – does not accurately reflect the present era of triumph and success.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, none of the proposals to replace "Our Fatherland" have come to fruition,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) – which were part of the coalition government<ref name=Parsons/> – have so far resisted efforts to change the national anthem,<ref name=Parsons/><ref name=Mkrtchyan/> especially proposals to replace it with one based on the music of the anthem of the Armenian SSR.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Current version

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Template:Smaller Template:Smaller Template:SmallerTemplate:Efn lang}}</poem> <poem>Template:Translit</poem> main}}</poem>	<poem>Our Fatherland, free, independent, That has lived for centuries, 𝄆 Is now summoning its sons To the free, independent Armenia. 𝄇 Here is a flag for you my brother, That I have sewed 𝄆 Over the sleepless nights, And bathed in my tears. 𝄇 Look at it, tricoloured, A valuable symbol for us. 𝄆 Let it shine against the enemy. Let Armenia be glorious forever. 𝄇 Death is the same everywhere, A man dies but once, 𝄆 Blessed is the one who dies For the freedom of his nation. 𝄇</poem>

Original version

The national anthem is based on the first, third, fourth and sixth stanzas of Nalbandian's poem "The Song of an Italian Girl".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The original text uses Classical spelling, which preceded the Armenian orthography reform.

Armenian original<ref>Kʻnar haykakan. Mikhail Misropovich Miansarov (1868).</ref>

Literal translation

Template:Smaller Template:Smaller lang}}</poem> <poem>Template:Translit</poem>

<poem>Our homeland, miserable, abandoned, Downtrodden by our foes, Her sons now calleth, Ready for revenge, spite and grudge. Behold, brother, a flag for thee, That I've sewn with my own hands, During the sleepness nights, Bathed in my tears. Look at it, tricolored, Our symbol cherished, Let it shine against the foe, Let you, Armenia, be glorious forever. Death is the same everywhere, Man who dieth but even once. Blessed is the one who dieth For the freedom of his land.</poem>

In popular culture

The title of the national anthem is used as the name of a television channel for Armenian expatriates residing in Russia. Mer Hayrenik TV is based in the city of Novosibirsk, the administrative centre of both Novosibirsk Oblast and the Siberian Federal District.<ref>Template:Cite journal Template:Registration required</ref>

External links

• State symbols of Armenia
• Vocal version of "Mer Hayrenik" in MP3 format
• Armenian part of nationalanthems.info: includes midi, lyrics, a music sheet