The anthem’s evocative melody and lyrics have led to its widespread use as a song of revolution and its incorporation into many pieces of classical and popular music. It is written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle and sung by volunteers from Marseille. The composer himself is not an revolutionary. He wrote the song to encourage the French troops who were fighting France’s enemies abroad. But he never supported the revolution at home. The song was so revolutionary that Napoleon and Louis XVIII both banned it. It was briefly restored after July revolution of 1830 but was banned again by Napoleon III. It was not allowed until 1879 and didn’t become the official national anthem again until 1946. The song was originally called “Chant de guerre pour l’armee du rhin (war song for the army of Rhine)”. It is a pretty brutal song urging the French to fight against the Prussian invasion that followed the revolution and was subsequently banned under Napoleon and for much of the 19th century. The most famous words in the song “aux armes citoyens” came from a poster that had just been released by the friends of constitution. The song was first sung on April 1792 and reached Marseille with the troops three months later. It’s rousing theme was an immediate success and it was a battalion from Marseille that sung the anthem in Paris later that year, hence the name Marseillaise. The declaration of war on Austria and Prussia, the mayor of Starsbourg, Baron de Dietrich, asked army engineer Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle to write a marching song. The modern Marseillaise is divided into seven verses and a chorus. However, at national events, sporting meetings and other occasions when it is played. Only the first verse and the chorus are sung. Indeed, most French people only know these sections. Today’s version is adapted from the 1887 score but in 1974, during president Giscard d’Estaing’s premiership, performances of La Marseillaise were at a slower tempo so as better to reflect the music’s origin. The French national anthem has had a turbulent past. Every now and then, there is an outcry to have it banned.
Rianna Bernabe #1
Lily Chamsay #2
Lily Chamsay #2