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Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser

Composer: Haydn Joseph

Instruments: Voice Piano

Tags: National anthem

#Arrangements

Download free scores:

Complete Score PDF 0 MB
A set (autograph &) PDF 39 MB

Arrangements:

Other

Piano + Mixed chorus (August Linder) Guitar(2) (Scherrer, Heinrich) Piano (Muzio Clementi) Piano + Voice(3) (Unknown) Piano (Muzio Clementi) Piano + Mixed chorus (Nicolas-Charles Bochsa) Piano (Muzio Clementi) Piano (Muzio Clementi) Harp (Nicolas-Charles Bochsa) Guitar (Stefan Apke)
Wikipedia
"Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (English: "God Save Emperor Francis", lit. '"God save Francis the Emperor"') was a personal anthem to Francis II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and later of the Austrian Empire, with lyrics by Lorenz Leopold Haschka (1749–1827) and music by Joseph Haydn. It is sometimes called the "Kaiserhymne" (Emperor's Hymn). Haydn's tune has since been widely employed in other contexts: in works of classical music, in Christian hymns, in alma maters, and as the tune of the "Deutschlandlied", the national anthem of Germany.
The sound file given to the right (played on a piano) uses the harmony Haydn employed for the string quartet version of his song, which he prepared later in 1797.
The lyrics are as follows:
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Lange lebe Franz der Kaiser, in des Glückes hellstem Glanz! Ihm erblühen Lorbeerreiser, wo er geht, zum Ehrenkranz! Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, unsern guten Kaiser Franz!
God save Francis the Emperor, our good Emperor Francis! Long live Francis the Emperor in the brightest splendor of bliss! May laurel branches bloom for him, wherever he goes, as a wreath of honor. God save Francis the Emperor, our good Emperor Francis!
The song was written when Austria was seriously threatened by Revolutionary France. The story of the song's genesis was narrated in 1847 by Anton Schmid, who was Custodian of the Austrian National Library in Vienna:
In England, Haydn came to know the favourite British national anthem, 'God Save the King', and he envied the British nation for a song through which it could, at festive occasions, show in full measure its respect, love, and devotion to its ruler.
When the Father of Harmony returned to his beloved Kaiserstadt, he related these impressions to that real friend, connoisseur, supporter and encourager of many a great and good one of Art and Science, Freiherr van Swieten, Prefect of the I. R. Court Library, who at the time was at the head of the Concert Spirituel (supported by high aristocracy) and likewise Haydn's particular patron. Haydn wished that Austria, too, could have a similar national anthem, wherein it could display a similar respect and love for its Sovereign. Also, such a song could be used in the fight then taking place with those forcing the Rhine; it could be used in a noble way to inflame the heart of the Austrians to new heights of devotion to the princes and fatherland, and to incite to combat, and to increase, the mob of volunteer soldiers who had been collected by a general proclamation.
Freiherr van Swieten hastily took counsel with His Excellency, the then President of Lower Austria, Franz Count von Saurau [de] ... and so there came into being a song which, apart from being one of Haydn's greatest creations, has won the crown of immortality.
It is also true that this high-principled Count used the most opportune moment to introduce a Volksgesang, and thus he called to life those beautiful thoughts which will delight connoisseurs and amateurs here and abroad.
He immediately ordered the poet Lorenz Haschka to draft the poetry and then requested our Haydn to set it to music.
In January 1797, this double task was resolved, and the first performance of the Song was ordered for the birthday of the Monarch.
Saurau himself later wrote:
I had a text fashioned by the worthy poet Haschka; and to have it set to music, I turned to our immortal compatriot Haydn, who, I felt, was the only man capable of creating something that could be placed at the side of ... "God Save the King".
"Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" was first performed on the Emperor's birthday, 12 February 1797. It proved popular, and came to serve unofficially as Austria's first national anthem.
As elsewhere in Haydn's music, it has been conjectured that Haydn took part of his material from folk songs he knew. This hypothesis has never achieved unanimous agreement, the alternative being that Haydn's original tune was adapted by the people in various versions as folk songs. For discussion, see Haydn and folk music.
One claimed folk source of "Gott erhalte" is a Croatian song, known in Međimurje and northern regions of Croatia under the name "Stal se jesem". The version below was collected by a field worker in the Croatian-speaking Austrian village of Schandorf.
Irrespective of the original source, Haydn's own compositional efforts went through multiple drafts, discussed by Rosemary Hughes in her biography of the composer. Hughes reproduces the draft fragment given below (i.e., the fifth through eighth lines of the song) and writes: "His sketches, preserved in the Vienna National Library, show the self-denial and economy with which he struggled to achieve [the song's] seemingly inevitable climax, pruning the earlier and more obviously interesting version of the fifth and sixth lines, which would have anticipated, and so lessened, its overwhelming effect."
The original version of the song (see autograph score, above) included a single line for voice with a rather crude piano accompaniment, with no dynamic indications and what Jones calls "an unevenness of keyboard sonority". This version was printed in many copies (two different printers were assigned to the work) and sent to theatres and opera houses across the Austrian territories with instructions for performance. The Vienna premiere took place in the Burgtheater on 12 February 1797, the day the song was officially released. The Emperor was present, attending a performance of Dittersdorf's opera Doktor und Apotheker and Joseph Weigl's ballet Alonzo und Cora. The occasion celebrated his 29th birthday.
Not long after, Haydn later wrote three additional versions of his song:
Joseph Haydn seems to have been particularly fond of his creation. During his frail and sickly old age (1802–1809), the composer often would struggle to the piano to play his song, often with great feeling, as a form of consolation; and as his servant Johann Elssler narrated, it was the last music Haydn ever played:
The Kayser Lied was still played three times a day, though, but on 26 May [1809] at half-past midday the Song was played for the last time and that 3 times over, with such expression and taste, well! that our good Papa was astonished about it himself and said he hadn't played the Song like that for a long time and was very pleased about it and felt well altogether till evening at 5 o'clock then our good Papa began to lament that he didn't feel well...
Elssler goes on to narrate the composer's final decline and death, which occurred on 31 May.
Later composers in the Western classical canon have repeatedly quoted or otherwise employed Haydn's tune, as is demonstrated by the following chronological list. As the tune was widely known, the uses by other composers were heard as quotations and served as an emblem of Austria, of Austrian patriotism, or of the Austrian monarchy.
After the death of Francis in 1835, the tune was given new lyrics that praised his successor, Ferdinand: "Segen Öst'reichs hohem Sohne / Unserm Kaiser Ferdinand!" ("Blessings to Austria's high son / Our Emperor Ferdinand!"). After Ferdinand's abdication in 1848, the original lyrics were used again because his successor (Francis Joseph) was also named Francis. However, in 1854, yet again new lyrics were selected: "Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze / Unsern Kaiser, unser Land!" ("God preserve, God protect / Our Emperor, our country!").
There were versions of the hymn in several languages of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (e.g., Czech, Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian, Polish, Italian).
At the end of the First World War in 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was abolished and divided into multiple states, one of them being the residual state of Austria, which was a republic and had no emperor. The tune ceased to be used for official purposes. When the last Emperor, Charles I, died in 1922, monarchists created an original stanza for his son Otto von Habsburg. Since the emperor was in fact never restored, this version never attained official standing.
The hymn was revived in 1929 with completely new lyrics, known as Sei gesegnet ohne Ende, which remained the national anthem of Austria until the Anschluss. The first stanza of the hymn's 1854 version was sung in 1989 during the funeral of Empress Zita of Austria and again in 2011 during the funeral of her son Otto von Habsburg.
Long after Haydn's death, his melody was used as the tune for Hoffmann von Fallersleben's poem "Das Lied der Deutschen" (1841). The third stanza ("Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"), sung to the melody, is the national anthem of Germany, the "Deutschlandlied".
In the ordinary nomenclature of hymn tunes, the melody of "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" is classified as 87.87D trochaic metre. When employed in a hymn it is sometimes known as Austria. It has been paired with various lyrics.
Various American schools, colleges, and universities use Haydn's music as the tune for their university or school hymns. Here is a partial list:
In China, the Ningbo No.2 Middle School [zh] uses Haydn's music as the tune for their middle school hymn.
Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Lange lebe Franz, der Kaiser, In des Glückes hellstem Glanz! Ihm erblühen Lorbeerreiser, Wo er geht, zum Ehrenkranz! Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Laß von seiner Fahne Spitzen Strahlen Sieg und Fruchtbarkeit! Laß in seinem Rate Sitzen Weisheit, Klugheit, Redlichkeit; Und mit Seiner Hoheit Blitzen Schalten nur Gerechtigkeit! Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Ströme deiner Gaben Fülle Über ihn, sein Haus und Reich! Brich der Bosheit Macht, enthülle Jeden Schelm- und Bubenstreich! Dein Gesetz sei stets sein Wille, Dieser uns Gesetzen gleich. Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Froh erleb' er seiner Lande, Seiner Völker höchsten Flor! Seh' sie, Eins durch Bruderbande, Ragen allen andern vor! Und vernehm' noch an dem Rande Später Gruft der Enkel Chor. Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz!
Isten mentsen Ferenc császárt, Jó Ferenc császárunk! Éljen Ferenc császár, A boldogság legfényesebb pompájában! Virágozhassanak számára babérszálak Becsületfüzérként, bárhová is megy. Isten mentsen Ferenc császárt, Jó Ferenc császárunk!
God save Francis the emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! Long live Francis the emperor, In the brightest splendour of happiness! May sprigs of laurel bloom for him As a garland of honour, wherever he goes. God save Francis the emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! From the tips of his flag May victory and fruitfulness shine! In his council May knowledge, wisdom and honesty sit! And with his Highness's lightning May justice but prevail! God save Francis the emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! May the abundance of thy gifts Pour over him, his house and Empire! Break the power of wickedness, and reveal Every trick of rogues and knaves! May thy Law always be his Will, And may this be like laws to us. God save Francis the emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! May he gladly experience the highest bloom Of his land and of his peoples! May he see them, united by the bonds of brothers, Loom over all others! And may he hear at the edge Of his late tomb his grandchildren's chorus. God save Francis the emperor, Our good Emperor Francis!
During Haydn's lifetime, his friend the musicologist Charles Burney, made an English translation of the first verse which is more felicitous if less literal than the one given above:
God preserve the Emp'ror Francis Sov'reign ever good and great; Save, o save him from mischances In Prosperity and State! May his Laurels ever blooming Be by Patriot Virtue fed; May his worth the world illumine And bring back the Sheep misled! God preserve our Emp'ror Francis! Sov'reign ever good and great.
Burney's penultimate couplet about sheep has no counterpart in the original German and appears to be Burney's own contribution.
For translations into several of the languages that were spoken in the Austrian Empire, see Translations of Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser.
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz, Hoch als Herrscher, hoch als Weiser, Steht er in des Ruhmes Glanz; Liebe windet Lorbeerreiser Ihm zum ewig grünen Kranz. Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Über blühende Gefilde Reicht sein Zepter weit und breit; Säulen seines Throns sind Milde, Biedersinn und Redlichkeit, Und von seinem Wappenschilde Strahlet die Gerechtigkeit. Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Sich mit Tugenden zu schmücken, Achtet er der Sorgen wert, Nicht um Völker zu erdrücken Flammt in seiner Hand das Schwert: Sie zu segnen, zu beglücken, Ist der Preis, den er begehrt, Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! Er zerbrach der Knechtschaft Bande, Hob zur Freiheit uns empor! Früh’ erleb’ er deutscher Lande, Deutscher Völker höchsten Flor, Und vernehme noch am Rande Später Gruft der Enkel Chor: Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz! 
God save Emperor Francis, Our good Emperor Francis, High as a ruler, high as a sage, He stands in fame’s glory; Love twists laurel branches Into an evergreen wreath for him. God save Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! Over flourishing realms his scepter extends far and wide; The pillars of his throne are gentleness, Rectitude and probity, And from his heraldic shield Justice shines. God save Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! To adorn himself with virtues He deems all worthy of concerns Not to repress peoples The sword in his hand flames: To bless them, to delight them Is the prize he desires, God save Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis! He shattered the fetters of bondage Lifted us aloft to freedom! Soon may he witness Highest bloom of German lands and German peoples And may he still hear at the edge Of a late tomb the grandchildren’s chorus: God save Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis!
Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze Unsern Kaiser, unser Land! Mächtig durch des Glaubens Stütze, Führ’ er uns mit weiser Hand! Laßt uns seiner Väter Krone Schirmen wider jeden Feind! |: Innig bleibt mit Habsburgs Throne    Österreichs Geschick vereint! :| Fromm und bieder, wahr und offen Laßt für Recht und Pflicht uns stehn; Laßt, wenn’s gilt, mit frohem Hoffen Mutvoll in den Kampf uns gehn Eingedenk der Lorbeerreiser Die das Heer so oft sich wand |: Gut und Blut für unsern Kaiser,    Gut und Blut fürs Vaterland! :| Was der Bürger Fleiß geschaffen Schütze treu des Kriegers Kraft; Mit des Geistes heitren Waffen Siege Kunst und Wissenschaft! Segen sei dem Land beschieden Und sein Ruhm dem Segen gleich; |: Gottes Sonne strahl’ in Frieden    Auf ein glücklich Österreich! :| Laßt uns fest zusammenhalten, In der Eintracht liegt die Macht; Mit vereinter Kräfte Walten Wird das Schwere leicht vollbracht, Laßt uns eins durch Brüderbande Gleichem Ziel entgegengehn |: Heil dem Kaiser, Heil dem Lande,    Österreich wird ewig stehn! :| An des Kaisers Seite waltet, Ihm verwandt durch Stamm und Sinn, Reich an Reiz, der nie veraltet, Uns’re holde Kaiserin. Was als Glück zu höchst gepriesen Ström’ auf sie der Himmel aus: |: Heil Franz Josef, Heil Elisen,    Segen Habsburgs ganzem Haus! :| Heil auch Öst’reichs Kaisersohne, Froher Zukunft Unterpfand, Seiner Eltern Freud’ und Wonne, Rudolf tönt’s im ganzen Land, Unsern Kronprinz Gott behüte, Segne und beglücke ihn, |: Von der ersten Jugendblüthe    Bis in fernste Zeiten hin. :|
God preserve, God protect Our Emperor, Our Country! Powerful through the support of the Faith, He lead us with a wise hand! Let’s the Crown of his Fathers shield against any foe! |: Austria’s Destiny remains    intimately united with the Habsburg throne! :| Pious and honest, true and open Let us stand for right and duty; Let, if needed, with joyful hope Go courageously in the fight Mindful of the laurel twigs That the army so often braided for itself |: Blood and Treasure for Our Emperor,    Blood and Treasure for Our Fatherland! :| What was wrought by the diligence of citizens may the soldier’s power faithfully protect; With cheery weapons of mind Arts and Science may triumph! Bliss be allotted to the Country And her fame equal the bliss; |: God’s sun shine in peace    On a happy Austria! :| Let us stand together firmly, In the unity there is power; By action of united forces Hard challenges are accomplished easily, Let us united by brotherly love Go towards the same goal |: Hail to the Emperor, Hail to the Country,    Austria will stand forever! :| At the Emperor’s side prevails, Related to him by descent and mind Rich in charm that never becomes outdated, Our gracious empress. What is praised as luck most highly Heaven pour on them: |: Hail Franz Josef, Hail Elise,    Blessing to the entire House of Habsburg! :| Hail also to the Austrian Emperor’s Son, Pledge of joyful future, His parents’ joy and gladness; ‘Rudolf!’ sounds throughout the country, God protect our Crown Prince, Bless him and gladden him, |: From the first bloom of Youth    on to far future times. :|
After the last Emperor, Charles I, died in 1922, monarchists created an original stanza for his son Otto von Habsburg. Since Austria had deposed its emperor in 1918 and become a republic, this version never had official standing.
In Verbannung, fern den Landen Weilst Du, Hoffnung Österreichs. Otto, treu in festen Banden Steh'n zu Dir wir felsengleich. Dir, mein Kaiser, sei beschieden Alter Ruhm und neues Glück! |: Bring den Völkern endlich Frieden,    Kehr zur Heimat bald zurück! :|
In exile, far from the lands You are staying, Austria's hope. Otto, faithful in tight ties We stand by you like rock. To you, my Emperor, let there be granted Old glory and new luck! |: Bring the peoples peace at last,    Return to the homeland soon! :|