"The word "revolution" tends to conjure images of protests, rage, bloodshed, reshaped borders or toppled despots. But a look at the history of revolutions sometimes reveals a "mellower" aftermath: songs birthed in turmoil, which have stood the test of time. Across centuries and continents, political and social upheaval have seen songs being composed either during an uprising or repurposed from folk traditions into tunes of resistance."
"In April 1792, as revolutionary France braced for war against Austria, Strasbourg's mayor, P.F. von Dietrich, lamented the lack of a stirring anthem to rally the troops. Captain Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, an amateur musician in the garrison, stepped up to the task, and reportedly with the aid of champagne wrote overnight the "War Song of the Army of the Rhine.""
"The piece was quickly adopted by volunteer army units from Marseille, which explains its current name. Its vivid imagery of blood and sacrifice was matched by a defiant call to unity: "To arms, citizens!" "La Marseillaise" was decreed France's national anthem in 1795. The anthem itself was shelved during the monarchy's brief restoration, then reinstated in 1879. Interestingly though, its composer was a royalist, not a republican. De Lisle narrowly escaped the guillotine during the French Revolution and died peacefully in 1836."
Songs have emerged from political upheaval across centuries and continents, either composed during uprisings or adapted from folk traditions into protest tunes. Some seemingly light ditties such as "Yankee Doodle" and "La Cucaracha" possess forceful backstories. "La Marseillaise" originated in April 1792 when Strasbourg's mayor sought an anthem; Captain Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle reportedly wrote the "War Song of the Army of the Rhine" overnight. Volunteer units from Marseille popularized the piece, which became France's national anthem in 1795, was later shelved during a monarchical restoration, and reinstated in 1879. Portugal's revolution is commemorated with red carnations.
Read at www.dw.com
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