| English: Anthem of the Estonian SSR | |
|---|---|
 | |
Former regional anthem of the  Estonian SSR | |
| Lyrics | Johannes Semper |
| Music | Gustav Ernesaks |
| Adopted | 20 July 1945 [1] 21 July 1956 (modified version) |
| Relinquished | 8 May 1990 [2] |
| Audio sample | |
State Anthem of the Estonian SSR (1945 version) | |
The State Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Estonia from 1945 to 1990 when it was a part of the Soviet Union.
The anthem was presented to the central government of the USSR in May 1944, three months after the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR had issued a decree on 3 February 1944, "On the State Anthems of the Soviet Republics." [3]
The melody of the anthem was composed by Gustav Ernesaks, and the lyrics written by Johannes Semper. The anthems of the Estonian SSR, the Karelo-Finnish SSR, and the Georgian SSR were the only Soviet regional anthems not to mention the Russian people. After the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died in 1953, during the following period of de-Stalinization in the USSR, on 21 July 1956, the third stanza of the lyrics of the Estonian SSR anthem were changed to remove all mentions of Stalin.
During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, performing or reciting the melody or lyrics of "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" was forbidden by law, and considered a punishable criminal offence by the Soviet regime. While another song with Ernesaks' melody "Mu isamaa on minu arm", served as means of expressing national feelings, and was widely regarded by Estonians as their "unofficial anthem". On 8 May 1990, "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" was restored as the state anthem, together with the blue-black-white Estonian flag and state official name Republic of Estonia. [4]
| Estonian original | English translation |
|---|---|
Jää kestma, Kalevite kange rahvas, | Endure, heroic people of Kalevs |
| Estonian original | English translation |
|---|---|
Jää kestma, Kalevite kange rahvas, | Endure, heroic people of Kalevs |
"Maamme" is the de facto national anthem of Finland. The music was composed by the German immigrant Fredrik Pacius, with original Swedish lyrics by Johan Ludvig Runeberg. It was first performed with the current melody and lyrics on 13 May 1848. Originally, it was written for the 500th anniversary of Porvoo, and for that occasion it was Runeberg himself who wrote the music.
"Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm" is the national anthem of Estonia. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1920.
The Soviet Union's various constituent republics each had their own anthem.
The State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the national anthem of the Soviet Union and the regional anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1944 to 1991, replacing "The Internationale". Its original lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009) in collaboration with El-Registan (1899–1945), and its music was composed by Alexander Alexandrov (1883–1946). For a two-decade interval following de-Stalinization, the anthem was performed without lyrics. The second set of lyrics, also written by Mikhalkov and in which Stalin's name was omitted, was adopted in 1977.
The State Anthem of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was the national anthem of Armenia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union and known as the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was used between 1944 and 1991. Its music was composed by Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, and the lyrics were written by Sarmen. Along with the Anthem of the Estonian SSR, it is one of the only two SSR anthems without an intro.
The State Anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Latvia from 1945 to 1990 when it was occupied by the Soviet Union.
The State Anthem of the Ukrainian SSR was the Soviet republican anthem of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the republics of the Soviet Union.
The State Anthem of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Belarus from 1955 to 1991 when it was a part of the former Soviet Union.
The State Anthem of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was an anthem of Lithuania under Soviet occupation from 1950 to 1989.
Gustav Ernesaks was an Estonian composer and a choir conductor.
The State Anthem of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was used from 1946 to 1996. Lyrics were were removed in 1991 as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the gaining of independence of Turkmenistan. The current State Anthem of Turkmenistan later replaced the Turkmen SSR anthem in 1996.
The State Anthem of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Moldova whem it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.
The State Anthem of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic was the official regional anthem of Kazakhstan when it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.
The 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.
The State Anthem of the Kirghiz SSR was the national anthem of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. The music was composed by Vladimir Vlasov, Abdylas Maldybaev and Vladimir Fere, and the lyrics were written by Kubanychbek Malikov, Tulgebai Sydykbekov, Mukanbet Toktobaev, and Aaly Tokombaev.
The State Anthem of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic was an anthem of Georgia from 1946 to 1990 when it was occupied by the Soviet Union.
The State Anthem of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic was the regional anthem of Tajikistan when it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic. The music and the lyrics were created in 1946, and the anthem was adopted later that year. The lyrics were dropped after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the national anthem of the newly independent Tajikistan had used the same melody without any lyrics until 1994, when the country adopted a new anthem, under the title "Surudi Milliy", with new lyrics, while retaining the same melody.
The Estonian Song Festival is one of the largest choral events in the world, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is held every five years in July on the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak) simultaneously with the Estonian Dance Festival. The joint choir has comprised more than 30,000 singers performing to an audience of 80,000.
"Mu isamaa on minu arm" is an Estonian poem by Lydia Koidula. The poem was first set to music for the first Estonian Song Festival in 1869 by Aleksander Kunileid.
The State Anthem of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic was the anthem of Azerbaijan when it was a part of the former Soviet Union. It was created in 1944 and was used from 1945 to 1992 upon the nation's independence.
