National anthems of the USSR and Union Republics
Encyclopedia
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its constituent republics each had a national anthem
(generally referred as state anthem).
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic had no anthem, and used exclusively that of the Union: the Internationale from 1917 to 1944 and the Hymn of the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1991.
Unlike most national anthems, few of which were composed by renowned composers, the state anthems were composed by some of the best Soviet composers, including world-renowned Gustav Ernesaks
(Estonia), Aram Khatchaturian (Armenia), Otar Taktakishvili
(Georgia) and Uzeyir Hajibeyov
(Azerbaijan).
The lyrics present great similarities, all having mentions to Vladmir Lenin (and, in their initial versions, to Joseph Stalin
), to the guiding role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
, and to the brotherhood of the Soviet peoples, including a specific reference to the friendship of the Russian
people (the Estonian and Karelo-Finnish anthems were apparently an exception to this last rule).
Most of these anthems were replaced during or after the collapse of the USSR; Belarus, Kazakhstan (until 2006), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (until 1997), and Uzbekistan kept the melodies, but with different lyrics. The Russian Federation
itself had abandoned the Soviet hymn, replacing it with a tune by Glinka
. However, with Vladimir Putin
coming to power, the old Soviet tune was restored, with new lyrics written to them.
The Anthem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR
was used for the Karelo-Finnish SSR
before it was demoted to an ASSR within the Russian SFSR. Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union
(ASSRs) did not have their own anthems.
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
(generally referred as state anthem).
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic had no anthem, and used exclusively that of the Union: the Internationale from 1917 to 1944 and the Hymn of the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1991.
Unlike most national anthems, few of which were composed by renowned composers, the state anthems were composed by some of the best Soviet composers, including world-renowned Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks was an Estonian composer and a choir conductor....
(Estonia), Aram Khatchaturian (Armenia), Otar Taktakishvili
Otar Taktakishvili
Otar Taktakishvili was a Georgian composer, teacher, conductor, and writer of music.Otar Taktakishvili graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatory, while still been a student he composed the official anthem of the Georgian SSR. By 1949 he became a Professor of the Tbilisi Conservatory and the ...
(Georgia) and Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
(Azerbaijan).
The lyrics present great similarities, all having mentions to Vladmir Lenin (and, in their initial versions, to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
), to the guiding role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
, and to the brotherhood of the Soviet peoples, including a specific reference to the friendship of the Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
people (the Estonian and Karelo-Finnish anthems were apparently an exception to this last rule).
Most of these anthems were replaced during or after the collapse of the USSR; Belarus, Kazakhstan (until 2006), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (until 1997), and Uzbekistan kept the melodies, but with different lyrics. The Russian Federation
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
itself had abandoned the Soviet hymn, replacing it with a tune by Glinka
Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...
. However, with Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
coming to power, the old Soviet tune was restored, with new lyrics written to them.
List of republics
- USSR and Russian SFSR - Hymn of the Soviet Union
- Ukrainian SSRUkrainian SSRThe Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
- Anthem of the Ukrainian SSRAnthem of Ukrainian SSRThe State Anthem of the Ukrainian SSR was the national anthem of the Ukrainian SSR when it was one of the republics of the Soviet Union.-Background:... - Byelorussian SSRByelorussian SSRThe Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It was one of the four original founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922, together with the Ukrainian SSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
- Anthem of the Byelorussian SSRAnthem of Byelorussian SSRThe State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR was the state anthem of Belarus when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Byelorussian SSR. The anthem was used from 1955 until Belarusian independence in 1991. It took over 11 years to create the music and lyrics for the anthem, even... - Uzbek SSRUzbek SSRThe Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
- Anthem of the Uzbek SSRAnthem of Uzbek SSRThe State Anthem of the Uzbek SSR was the national anthem of Uzbekistan when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Uzbek SSR.-Background:... - Kazakh SSRKazakh SSRThe Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Kazakh SSR for short, was one of republics that made up the Soviet Union.At in area, it was the second largest constituent republic in the USSR, after the Russian SFSR. Its capital was Alma-Ata . Today it is the independent state of...
- Anthem of the Kazakh SSRAnthem of Kazakh SSRThe State Anthem of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic was the national anthem of Kazakhstan when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Kazakh SSR.-Background:... - Georgian SSR - Anthem of the Georgian SSRAnthem of Georgian SSRThe State Anthem of the Georgian SSR was the national anthem of Georgia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Georgian SSR.-Background:...
- Azerbaijan SSRAzerbaijan SSRThe Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
- Anthem of the Azerbaijan SSR - Lithuanian SSRLithuanian SSRThe Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
- Anthem of the Lithuanian SSRAnthem of Lithuanian SSRThe State Anthem of the Lithuanian SSR was the national anthem of Lithuania when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Lithuanian SSR.-Background:... - Moldavian SSRMoldavian SSRThe Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
- Anthem of the Moldavian SSRAnthem of Moldavian SSRThe State Anthem of the Moldavian SSR was the national anthem of Moldova when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and was known as the Moldavian SSR.-Background:The music was composed by Ştefan Neaga and Eduard Lazarev... - Latvian SSRLatvian SSRThe Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Latvian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the Soviet Union. Established on 21 July 1940 as a puppet state during World War II in the territory of the previously independent Republic of Latvia after it had been occupied by...
- Anthem of the Latvian SSRAnthem of Latvian SSRThe State Anthem of the Latvian SSR was the national anthem of Latvia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Latvian SSR.-Background:... - Kirghiz SSR - Anthem of the Kirghiz SSR
- Tajik SSRTajik SSRThe Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Tajik SSR for short, was one of the 15 republics that made up the Soviet Union. Located in Central Asia, the Tajik SSR was created on 5 December 1929 as a national entity for the Tajik people within the Soviet Union...
- Anthem of the Tajik SSR - Armenian SSRArmenian SSRThe Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
- Anthem of the Armenian SSRAnthem of Armenian SSRThe State Anthem of the Armenian SSR was the national anthem of Armenia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Armenian SSR.-Background:The anthem was used from 1944 to 1991... - Turkmen SSRTurkmen SSRThe Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Turkmen SSR for short, was one of republics of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It was initially established on 7 August 1921 as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR. On 13 May 1925 it was transformed into Turkmen SSR and became a...
- Anthem of the Turkmen SSRAnthem of Turkmen SSRThe State Anthem of the Turkmen SSR was the national anthem of Turkmenistan when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Turkmen SSR.-Background:... - Estonian SSR - Anthem of the Estonian SSRAnthem of Estonian SSRThe State Anthem of the Estonian SSR was the anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, a republic of the Soviet Union. It was official from 1945 to 1990....
The Anthem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR
Anthem of Karelo-Finnish SSR
The State Anthem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR was the national anthem of Karelia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Karelo-Finnish SSR.-Background:...
was used for the Karelo-Finnish SSR
Karelo-Finnish SSR
The Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic was a short-lived republic that was a part of the former Soviet Union. The republic existed from 1940 until it was merged back into the Russian SFSR in 1956 ....
before it was demoted to an ASSR within the Russian SFSR. Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union
Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union
Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics of the Soviet Union were administrative units created for certain nations. The ASSRs had a status lower than the union republics of the Soviet Union, but higher than the autonomous oblasts and the autonomous okrugs....
(ASSRs) did not have their own anthems.
External links
- Audio recordings made by each republic's best national choir and orchestra in the 1970s-80s; also instrumental versions by the Brass Band of the USSR Ministry of Defence from the 1968 Soviet LP.