Kde domov můj

Kde domov můj

English: Where is My Home?
Kde domov můj (Where is my home?)
National anthem of  Czech Republic
Lyrics	Josef Kajetán Tyl, 1834
Music	František Škroup, 1834
Adopted	1918, 1990
Music sample
Kde domov můj (instrumental)

Kde domov můj (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɡdɛ ˈdomof ˈmuːj]; in English: Where is my home?) is the national anthem of the Czech Republic, written by the composer František Škroup and the playwright Josef Kajetán Tyl.

The piece was written as a part of the incidental music to the comedy Fidlovačka aneb Žádný hněv a žádná rvačka (Fidlovačka, or No Anger and No Brawl). It was first performed by Karel Strakatý at the Estates Theatre in Prague on December 21, 1834. The original song consists of two verses (see below). Although J. K. Tyl is said to have considered leaving the song out of the play, not convinced of its quality, it soon became very popular among Czechs and was accepted as an informal anthem of a nation seeking to revive its identity within the Habsburg Empire.^[1]

Soon after Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, the first verse of the song became the Czech part of the national anthem, followed by the first verse of the Slovak song Nad Tatrou sa blýska. Because of the linguistic and ethnic diversity of the First Republic, official translations were made into Hungarian and German as well.^[2]

With the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the Czechoslovak anthem was divided as well. While Slovakia extended its anthem by adding a second verse, the Czech Republic's national anthem was adopted unextended, in its single-verse version.^[1]

In 1882, Antonín Dvořák used Kde domov můj? in his incidental music to the František Ferdinand Šamberk play Josef Kajetán Tyl, Op. 62, B. 125. The overture is often played separately as a concert work entitled Domov můj (My Home).

Original lyrics (from Fidlovačka, 1834)

Czech original and English translation

Kde domov můj, kde vlast je má, voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj! Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, v kraji znáš-li bohumilém duše útlé v těle čilém, mysl jasnou, vznik a zdar a tu sílu vzdoru zmar, to je Čechů slavné plémě mezi Čechy domov můj! mezi Čechy domov můj!

Where is my home, where is my homeland, Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among crags, The garden is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home! Where is my home, where is my home, If, in the heavenly land, you have met Slender souls in spry bodies, Of clear mind, vigorous and prospering, And with a strength that frustrates all defiance, That is the glorious nation of Czechs, Among the Czechs (is) my home! Among the Czechs, my home!

Czechoslovak anthem of 1918-1992

Coat of arms of the
Czechoslovak Republic

Emblem of the
Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

	Czechoslovak anthem Medley of Kde domov můj and Nad Tatrou sa blýska
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The first stanza, along with that of the Slovak song Nad Tatrou sa blýska which is nowadays the national anthem of Slovakia, became from 1918 to 1992 the national anthem of Czechoslovakia.

Czech and Slovak and English translation

Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj!  Nad Tatrou sa blýska, hromy divo bijú  Nad Tatrou sa blýska, hromy divo bijú  Zastavme sa, bratia, veď sa ony stratia,  Slováci ožijú.  Zastavme sa, bratia, veď sa ony stratia,  Slováci ožijú.

Where is my home, where is my home, Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among crags, The garden is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home!  There is lightning over the Tatras, thunders wildly beat,  There is lightning over the Tatras, thunders wildly beat.  Let's pause, brothers, after all they'll disappear,  the Slovaks will revive.  Let's pause, brothers, after all they'll disappear,  the Slovaks will revive.

Adapted version (official Czech national anthem)

	Vocal choir version
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Czech and English translation

Czech Original Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, Voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj!

Official Translation Where my home is, where my home is, Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among rocks, The orchard is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home!

Poetic Translation (Unofficial) Where is my home, where is my home, Streams are rushing through the meadows, Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves, Orchards decked in spring's array, Scenes of Paradise portray. And this land of wondrous beauty, Is the Czech land, home of mine, Is the Czech land, home of mine!

(Lyrics according to Appendix 6 of Czech Act No. 3/1993 Coll., as adapted by Act No. 154/1998 Coll.)

Alternate English translation which is true to the tune and meter of the original Czech and Slovak verses

Where is my home, where is my home,

Streams are rushing through the meadows,

Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves,

Orchards decked in spring's array,

Scenes of Paradise portray.

And this land of wondrous beauty,

Is the Czech land, home of mine,

Is the Czech land, home of mine!

Lightning strikes our mighty Tatras tempest shaken,

Lightning strikes our mighty Tatras tempest shaken.

Stand we fast friends of mine; storms will pass, sun will shine; Slovaks shall awaken,

Stand we fast friends of mine; storms will pass, sun will shine; Slovaks shall awaken.

German translation (used 1918-1938)

Wo ist mein Heim, mein Vaterland,

Wo durch Wiesen Bäche brausen,

Wo auf Felsen Wälder sausen,

Wo ein Eden uns entzückt,

Wenn der Lenz die Fluren schmückt:

Dieses Land, so schön vor allen,

Böhmen ist mein Heimatland.

Böhmen ist mein Heimatland.

Hungarian translation (used 1920-1938)

Hol van honom, hol a hazám,

Hol patak zúg a hegyháton,

Csörgedez a rónaságon.

Üde virág a kertben,

Mint egy földi édenben.

Ez az istenáldotta föld,

Cseh föld a hazám,

Cseh föld a hazám.

Fenn a Tátra ormán villámok cikáznak,

Fenn a Tátra ormán villámok cikáznak,

Állj meg szlovák testvér, elmúlik a veszély népünk ébredez már.

Állj meg szlovák testvér, elmúlik a veszély népünk ébredez már.

References

1. Article 7 of Czech law n° 3/1993 Sb. on statehood emblems
2. Gössel, Gabriel; et al. (2008). The Czech Republic’s national anthem down the ages. Úřad vlády České republiky + Národní muzeum + Národní divadlo + Český rozhlas. ISBN 978-80-87041-51-2.

External links

• Czech Republic: Kde domov můj? - Audio of the national anthem of the Czech Republic, with information and lyrics
• State Symbols – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a page about state symbols that includes a copy of the music of the anthem.
• New (2008) official recordings – female solo, male solo, choir, and orchestral versions.