Originally a poem by the swedish poet Viktor Rydberg, who based it on the "War songs of Tyrtaeus" A Greek poet who lived around 600 BC. Sibelius composed the song in 1899 and it was instantly a huge success. Soon it was also translated into finnish.
I wouldn't normally upload a video which already has some circulation but I have to set the record straight. Yes, the poem is Swedish (based on the greek original) but the song is inherently Finnish and fenno-swedish to be exact. In 1899 it was first performed by the finnish swedish-speaking choir "Akademiska Sångföreningen" and The Helsingfors boy choir. So basically the poem is Swedish but the song is Finnish.
Pictured: Men of the 61st Infantry Regiment in 1944 at Tienhaara, a completely swedish-speaking unit in the Continuation War.
Ateenalaisten laulu alkuperäiskielellä eli ruotsiksi. Sanat ovat ruotsalaisen Viktor Rydbergin ja sävel Jean Sibeliuksen.
Atenarnes Sång på svenska. Skriven av Viktor Rydberg och komponerad av Jean Sibelius.
Source: • Song of the Athenians,...
26 авг 2024