July 14 is France's National Day. Every day, Marseillaise resounds all over France, as it is the national anthem of France, majestic and beautiful.
Surprisingly, such a famous song was not written by musicians and poets, but by an amateur music lover. It was born 220 years ago, at the time of the French Revolution, and it produced great power. It has a moving story.
It was the early spring of 1792, the french people's struggle against the feudal monarch Louis XVI was in a difficult period, and the French revolution was met with opposition from some feudal monarchies in Europe. At this time, the French economy was depressed, cold and famine were enveloping the city of Trascarbourg, the capital of Alsace, and people were extremely short of food and fuel.
One day, a young officer, Captain Rouge de Lier, came to the home of Mayor Dietrich. At this time, there was not much food in the mayor's house, and Dietrich looked at the planned pieces of bread and ham sausages on the table and said with great emotion: "As long as the citizens do not lack a lively atmosphere in the festival, as long as the soldiers do not lack courage, we eat worse, it is nothing!" He and Lil talked and got excited, so he instructed his daughter, "There's one last bottle of wine in the cellar, give it to us!" Then the mayor raised his glass and said to Lil: "Young man, let us toast to freedom and for the motherland!" ”
Rouge de Lier
At the dinner table, the mayor told Lille that Strasbourg was about to hold a grand patriotic celebration in the near future, hoping that he would have a few more drinks and write an inspiring song. Lear happily agreed.
In the evening, Lil returned to his room, still excited. Today, under the mobilization of the mayor, he is really passionate. Unable to suppress his passion, he began to create overnight. One moment he composes the music first, then fills in the words; the next moment he fills in the words first, and then he composes the music. One moment playing the piano, the next singing... He was very busy all night, and finally fell asleep on the piano.
At dawn, Lil woke up, and suddenly, as if his eyes were bright, the songs of the night came to mind like a dream. He hurriedly captured this inspiration, found the main theme from the chaotic thoughts of last night, and immediately wrote down the lyrics and scored the music in one breath.
Lear quickly arrived at the mayor's house with the song he had just finished. When the mayor heard about it, he quickly found his wife and daughter, and also found a few music-loving friends from nearby to enjoy it.
Rouge de Lier sang a new song
Lille, accompanied by the mayor's daughter on the piano, sang a new song. Everyone listened intently. After the first verse was sung, the faces of those present turned pale. When we heard the second verse, everyone couldn't help but shed tears. When the last verse was sung, everyone was enthusiastic. They applauded, they burst into tears of excitement, and couldn't help but cry out and hug Lil tightly. They praised: "The hymn of freedom and the motherland has finally been found!" ”
Lier was so excited by the success of the work that he asked someone to copy it into a song and distribute it to the commanders of the Rhine Army, which became very popular and was named "The Rhine Army Battle Song". The band then played for a few days on the city square of Strasbourg. Soon, the new song spread like wings to every corner of Strasbourg.
Two months later, the situation changed, and the Prussian-Austrian coalition invaded France in a vain attempt to interfere in the French revolution. In this situation, new recruits were recruited from all over the country and allied troops went to Paris to resist foreign military intervention.
In Marseille, the southernmost part of France, a large allied army marched toward Paris. The warriors marched with this song and sang this song to participate in battle. When they arrived in Paris, thousands of people greeted them in the streets. People were very excited to hear this blood-boiling battle song. Everyone sang a song, making the song a household name. Because this song was brought by the Maasai people, it was named "Marseillaise".
The people's revolutionary struggle, despite its repeated struggles, was victorious, and in September of that year the reactionary monarch Louis XVI was arrested and deposed.
Three years later, in 1795, on France's National Day, the French National Assembly passed a decision to formally establish The Marseillaise as the national anthem.
Because the Marseillaise played an inspiring role in the French Revolution, the song became famous all over the world, so it became an allusion. It is often used as a metaphor for revolutionary songs, generally referring to the inspiring battle hymns.
The Marseillaise in relief on the Arc de Triomphe
It may seem strange that a very encouraging song is not from the musician's hand, but in fact it is the burst of passion, the passion of the revolution that makes the song.
Attached is a translation of the lyrics of the "Marseillaise":
Thousands of cheers dear freedom, singing to you can dispel sorrow. You can break the prison of the weak and return to the blessed land and the happy tour. You have descended from heaven for the great cause of innovation, and you party members have longed for it, why are you still tormented? The so-called great cause of innovation has not yet been created, holding weapons and killing the enemy! Fight for justice and freedom. Advance, advance, the enemy is shocked, or killed, or flee!