History
Brief overview: The Russian National Anthem, also known as the Hymn of the Russian Federation, is an adaptation of the national anthem of the former Soviet Union. It is one of the primary official state symbols of the Russian Federation, together with the Russian Flag and Coat of Arms. The anthem's melody was composed by Alexander Alexandrov, while the lyrics were written by Sergey Mikhalkov. The phrase "unbreakable union" was removed from the current version of the anthem. The updated version of the anthem was first introduced on December 25, 2000 for the music and on December 30, 2000 for the lyrics.
Full version: The Russian National Anthem has a historical background that traces back to the Soviet era. It started with "The Internationale," which was selected as the official anthem of the Soviet Union in 1917. Moreover, during World War II in 1944, a new anthem was introduced, which was an adaptation of a song by Alexander Alexandrov called "A Song of the Soviet Homeland." This orchestration was utilized until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the need to choose a new national anthem for the Russian Federation came up. There was a competition held in 1990 to find a new anthem, and the winner was Viktor Radugin, whose anthem was named the "Patriotic Song". However, President Boris Yeltsin did not formally accept this anthem as the new national anthem. Instead, in 2000, a revamped version of the Soviet-era anthem was adopted. The new lyrics, written by Sergey Mikhalkov, replaced the original Soviet lyrics, which were viewed as too militaristic.
The melody of the Russian National Anthem has a unique history with various musical backgrounds. The piece was composed by Alexander Alexandrov, known for his compositions for the Red Army Chorus. The anthem melody has been included in numerous musical works such as popular songs, ballets, and film scores. The current version of the anthem was first introduced on December 25, 2000, for the music, and on December 30, 2000, for the lyrics. The Russian National Anthem is one of the primary official state symbols of the Russian Federation, along with the Russian Flag and Coat of Arms. The "unbreakable union" phrase from the Soviet-era anthem was also removed from the National Hymn of Russia.
In conclusion, the Russian National Anthem has an interesting history that is closely related to the Soviet Union. Over the years, it has undergone several changes. The acceptance of the latest version reflects modern Russian values and aspirations, and at the same time, it recognizes the country's rich musical and political history.
Etiquette (behavior protocol)
During the official performance of the Russian Anthem, people are expected to stand in an upright position and men should remove their headwear as a sign of respect. This is a common practice in many countries when the national anthem is played as it is considered a way of showing reverence for the country.
Audio download
To download the Russian Anthem in MP3 format, right-click on this link and select 'Save link as' or 'Download linked file as'.
Instrumental MP3 Download
If you want to sing the Russian anthem without the vocals, an instrumental version is available for download in MP3 format. The length of this instrumental version is 3 minutes and 30 seconds, which is considered to be the full version.
Singing the anthem can be a meaningful and emotional experience, making it essential to choose the instrumental version that best suits your preferences. When singing, it is always a good idea to have the lyrics available, so you know the meaning of the song and can sing along with accuracy and clarity.
Downloading an instrumental version of the Russian anthem is a must for anyone who loves to sing and is looking for a moving, patriotic song to perform.