# Patrioticheskaya Pesnya

"The Patriotic Song" was the national anthem of Russia from 1991 to 2000. It was previously the regional anthem of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1990 until 1991 (until 1990 it used the State Anthem of the Soviet Union), when it transformed into the Russian Federation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Unlike most national anthems, it had no official lyrics. Although unofficial ones were written for it, they were never adopted.

## Etymology

"The Patriotic Song" was originally a piano composition without lyrics, composed by Mikhail Glinka (1804–1857), and it was originally titled "National Song Motif" (French: Motif de chant national). The song has been known under its current title of "The Patriotic Song" since 1944, after Glinka's composition was arranged for orchestra by composer Mikhail Bagrinavskij [ru] under that name, popularizing it and leading it to become synonymous with Glinka's original work itself.

## History

"Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" originally was not a song but a composition for piano without lyrics, written by Mikhail Glinka in 1833 and titled (in French) "Motif de chant national". It was often claimed that it was written by Glinka as part of a national anthem contest or with the intent of becoming a national anthem, though evidence for either claim is scant. In 1885, Glinka's manuscript was re-discovered after languishing in obscurity at the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg. In 1944 it was arranged for orchestra by composer Mikhail Bagrinovsky [ru] under the title "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" and a few years later, poet Alexei Mashistov set lyrics to Bagrinovsky's arrangement of Glinka's composition for a song dedicated to the Soviet capital of Moscow, both of which helped popularize Glinka's work among the Soviet public and gave it its common contemporary moniker.
The Russian TV news program Vremya used it as its theme tune from 1984 to 1986.
In the 1990s, Boris Yeltsin chose the tune as the new state anthem of the Russian SFSR and it was officially adopted as such on 23 November 1990 by the Supreme Soviet of Russia. It remained in de facto usage through inertia by the new Russian Federation from 1991 until its official confirmation as the state's national anthem in 1993 when the Russian constitution was enacted. Also favored by the Russian Orthodox Church, the music went without lyrics for several years. In 1999, Viktor Radugin won a contest to provide suitable words for it with his poem "Glory to Russia!" (Russian: Славься, Россия!, romanized: Slávsya, Rossíya!). However, no lyrics and none of the entries were ever adopted.
It reportedly proved to be unpopular with the Russian public and with many politicians and public figures, because of its tune and lack of lyrics, and consequently its inability to inspire Russian athletes during international competitions.
It was replaced soon after Yeltsin's successor as President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, first took office on 7 May 2000. The federal legislature established and approved the music of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union, with newly written lyrics, in December 2000. Yeltsin criticized Putin for supporting the semi-reintroduction of the Soviet-era national anthem, although some opinion polls showed that many Russians favored this decision.
Today, the song is used by some elements of the Russian opposition as a political anthem. It is also sometimes erroneously played during sporting events involving Russia.

## Proposed lyrics
### "Glory to Russia!"

These are the unofficial lyrics to "The Patriotic Song" by Viktor Radugin, titled "Glory to Russia!" (Славься, Россия!). It has been confused with the closing chorus of Glinka's opera A Life for the Tsar, possibly due to both beginning with the same word glory (славься), but the two works are unrelated with the latter being derived from an old Polish folk song (though the operatic music, too, has been suggested as a candidate for a Russian national anthem).
| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | IPA transcription | English translation |
| Славься, славься, родина-Россия! Сквозь века и грозы ты прошла И сияет солнце над тобою И судьба твоя светла. Над старинным московским Кремлём Вьётся знамя с двуглавым орлом И звучат священные слова: «Славься, Русь – Отчизна моя!» | Slavjsja, slavjsja, rodina-Rossija! Skvozj veka i grozy ty proshla! I sijajet solnce nad toboju I sudjba tvoja svetla! Nad starinnym moskovskim Kremljom Viotsja znamja s dvuglavym orlom I zvuchat svjashchennyje slova: „Slavjsja, Rusj – Otchizna moja!“ | [ˈsɫafʲ.sʲə ˈsɫafʲ.sʲə ˈro.dʲɪ.nə rɐ.ˈsʲi.jə ‖] [skvozʲ‿vʲɪ.ˈka i ˈɡro.zɨ tɨ prɐʂ.ˈɫa ‖] [i sʲɪ.ˈjæ.(j)ɪt ˈson.tsə nət tɐ.ˈbo.jʊ] [i sʊdʲ.ˈba tvɐ.ˈja svʲɪt.ˈɫa ‖] [nət stɐ.ˈrʲin.nɨm mɐ.ˈskof.skʲɪm krʲɪ.ˈmlʲɵm] [ˈvʲjɵts.sə ˈzna.mʲə z‿dvʊ.ˈɡɫa.vɨm ɐr.ˈɫom] [i zvʊ.ˈtɕat svʲɪ.ˈɕːen.nɨ.(j)ɪ sɫɐ.ˈva] [ˈsɫafʲ.sʲə rusʲ ɐt.ˈtɕiz.nə mɐ.ˈja ‖] | Glory, glory to Mother Russia! You've passed through centuries and storms! And the sun is shining upon you And bright is your fate. Above the ancient Moscow Kremlin A two-headed eagle flag hovers And the sacred words sound: "Glory to Russia – my Fatherland!" |

### "Majestically Above the Fatherland"

"Majestically Above the Fatherland" (Russian: Над Отчизной величаво, romanized: Nad Otchiznoj velichavo) written by Vladimir Kalinkin in 1998, was another proposed set of lyrics. Performed by Russian artist Vladimir Detayov, the Duma was made aware of this piece's existence in April 1999. At the initiative of the Ministry of Ethnic Policy of Russia, this record was first publicly presented at the First Congress of the Assembly of Peoples of Russia. During the summer of that year, it was performed on the radio station "Radio of Russia" and the TV channel "Moskoviya", devoted to writing a text for the national anthem.
In January 2000, it was carried out in a new orchestral arrangement performed by the N.P. Osipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments and the A.V. Sveshnikov Academic Choir. Overall the song received positive reviews, although like "Glory to Russia!", never attained official status.
| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | English translation |
| Припев: Над Отчизной величаво – Башни древнего Кремля. Славься, прадедов держава, Вся Российская земля! Ты – духовностью богата И соборностью крепка – По крупице, трудно, свято Собиралась на века. Единением народов Нерушима и сильна, Одолеет все невзгоды Наша мудрая страна. Припев | Pripev: Nad Otchiznoj velichavo – Bashni drevnego Kremlja. Slavjsja, pradedov derzhava, Vsja Rossijskaja zemlja! Ty – duhovnostiu bogata I sobornostiu krepka – Po krupice, trudno, svjato, Sobiralasj na veka. Jedinenijem narodov Nerushima i siljna, Odolejet vse nevzgody Nasha mudraja strana. Pripev | Chorus: Majestically above the Fatherland – The towers of the ancient Kremlin. Glory to the state of our forefathers, All of the Russian land! You — rich in spirituality And strong in fellowship – Gradually, through hardship and holiness, Have come together forever. Through unity of its peoples, Unbreakable and strong, Our wise country Will overcome all adversities. Chorus |

### “Red Star” (Russian Army Choir)

In 1992, a version of "The Patriotic Song" with lyrics specifically about Moscow was sung by the “Red Star" Russian Army Choir and Dance Ensemble of RVSN at the Tchaikovsky Hall.
| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | English translation |
| Здравствуй, славная столица! Сердце Родины, Москва! Вся страна тобой гордится, Городов родных глава. Русь великую сплотила Ты вокруг твердынь Кремля, И окрепла наша сила, И прославилась земля. | Zdravstvuj, slavnaja stolica! Serdce Rodiny, Moskva! Vsja strana toboj gorditsja, Gorodov rodnyh glava. Rusj velikuju splotila Ty vokrug tverdynj Kremlja, I okrepla nasha sila, I proslavilasj zemlja. | Hello, glorious capital! Heart of the Motherland, Moscow! The whole country is proud of you, Head of native cities. You have united great Rus' Around the strongholds of the Kremlin, And our power has grown stronger, And the land has become famous. |

### "In our century of Russia - glory!"

Words of the 103rd Russian anthem out of 140 prepared by poster poet Nina Benson.
Performed by the Big Choir of Radio and Orchestra of the Ministry of Defense conducted by Viktor Afanasiev (recorded in 1998; the draft words and this recording were presented at a presentation in the Duma on February 3, 1998).
| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | English translation |
| На века России нашей - слава! Непреклонно мужество Руси. Отчий дом и честь храни, Держава, Флаг свободы гордо неси. Дух единства, крепи нашу силу, Светлой верой воспрянет страна. Правь судьбой, великая Россия, Славься, Русь, на все времена | Na veka Rossii nashej – slava! Nepreklonno muzhestvo Rusi. Otchij dom i chestj hrani, Derzhava, Flag svobody gordo nesi. Duh jedinstva, krepi nashu silu, Svetloj veroj vosprjanet strana. Pravj sudjboj, velikaja Rossija, Slavjsja, Rusj, na vse vremena! | In our century of Russia – glory! The resolute courage of Russia. Preserve thy Father's home and honour, Power, The flag of freedom is maintained proudly. Spirit of unity, muster our strength, The country shall rise with bright faith. Rule the fate, oh great Russia, Glory to Russia forevermore! |

### "Slav'sya, Rus"

In May 1991, the artistic director of the ensemble named after Alexandrova, Igor Agafonnikov recorded the anthem with the following words.
| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | English translation |
| Славься, Русь — великая страна! Славься, Русь — свободна и сильна. Славься Труд, Богатство и Земля, Расцветай, Отчизна моя! Присягает российский народ Конституции прав и свобод И в душе рождаются слова: Славься, Русь — Отчизна моя! | Slav'sya, Rus' — velikaya strana! Slav'sya, Rus' — svobodna i sil'na. Slav'sya Trud, Bogatstvo i Zemlya, Rastsvetay, Otchizna moya! Prisyagayet rossiyskiy narod Konstitutsii prav i svobod I v dushe rozhdayutsya slova: Slav'sya, Rus' — Otchizna moya! | Glory, Russia is a great country! Glory, Russia is free and strong. Glory to Labor, Wealth and Earth, Blossom, my Fatherland! The Russian people swear Constitutions of rights and freedoms And the words are born in my soul: Glory, Russia - my Fatherland! |