National Anthems
National Anthems, official national songs honoring the spirit of the native land. Some anthems specifically celebrate a historical personage or event; others exalt the beauty of the country. A number of anthems are simply melodies without words, often no more than brief fanfares. In the following listing of national anthems, with information on their origins, titles are given insofar as they exist; many anthems are known conventionally by their first lines. The date of adoption indicates the year in which a country officially adopted its national anthem.
Afghanistan. No official national anthem named.
Albania. “Hymni i Flamurit” (“Hymn to the Flag”). Music by Ciprian Porumbescu. Words by Aleksander Stavre Drenova. Adopted 1912.
Algeria. “Qassaman” (“The Pledge”). Music by Mohamed Fawzi, 1956. Words by Mufdi Zakariah, 1955. Adopted 1963.
Andorra. “El Gran Carlemany” (“The Great Charlemagne”). Music by Father Enric Marfany Bons. Words by D. Joan Benlloch i Vivó. Adopted 1914.
Angola. “Angola Avante” (“Forward Angola”). Music by Rui Alberto Vieira Dias Mingas. Words by Manuel Rui Alves Monteiro. Adopted 1975.
Antigua and Barbuda. “Fair Antigua and Barbuda.” Music by Walter Garnet Picart Chambers. Words by Novelle Hamilton Richards. Adopted 1967.
Argentina. “Himno Nacional Argentino” (“Argentine National Anthem”). Music by Blas Parera. Words by Vicente López y Planes. Adopted 1813.
Armenia. “Mer Hayrenik” (“Our Fatherland”). Music by Barsegh Kanachyan. Words adapted from a poem by Miqayél Ghazari Nalbandyan. Adopted 1991.
Australia. “Advance Australia Fair.” Music and words by Peter Dodds McCormick (under the pen name Amicus), 1878. Adopted 1984.
Austria. “Land der Berge Land am Strome” (“Land of Mountains Land of Rivers”). Music by Johann Holzer (melody formerly attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart). Words by Paula von Preradovic´, 1946. Adopted 1947.
Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan Marsi” (“Azerbaijan March”). Music by Uzeirr Gadijibecov. Words by Ahmad Javad. Adopted 1992.
Bahamas. “March on, Bahamaland.” Music and words by Timothy Gibson, 1972. Adopted 1973.
Bahrain. Composer unknown. Words by Mohamed Ayyash Sudqi. Adopted 1971.
Bangladesh. “Āmār Sonār Bangla."("My Golden Bengal"). Music and words by Rabindranath Tagore. Adopted 1972.
Barbados. “Barbados National Anthem.” Music by C. Van Roland Edwards, 1966. Words by Irving Louis Burgie, 1966. Adopted 1966.
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