The Indestructible Anthem?

On Oct. 12, yet another meeting was held in the Kremlin to try to settle on words for Russia’s national anthem. Yes, the country already has a national anthem: The Patriotic Song, by Mikhail Glinka. But this is only a melody without any words. For the past five years, poets have been working diligently to produce lyrics for this music, something that will reflect the spirit of the New Russia. But to no avail. The Powers That Be have mercilessly rejected every draft submitted them. And no surprise: Glinka’s fine song is simply too complex—it’s a bit like trying to find words for Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or Beethoven’s monumental Fifth Symphony.

Whatever the reason, Russians are now becoming more and more impatient for a solution to this problem. All here were embarrassed by the “deafening silence” at the Sydney Olympics, when Russian medal winners had no words to sing along with their country’s anthem.

So now the age old Russian question rises up: “What is to be done?”

There are several proposals, actually. But no solutions. President Vladimir Putin commissioned to the governor of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Yakovlev, to be in charge of state symbols, and to work on finding words for Russia’s national anthem. But given Putin’s disdain for Yakovlev (Putin once accused Yakovlev of contributing to the fatal heart attack of the president’s patron and mentor, Anatoly Sobchak), this assignment reeks of the Soviet-era Politburo dispensation of the agricultural portfolio—i.e. a political kiss of death.

But then Yakovlev is not sitting on his hands.

Apparently, several ideas have been tossed around. When asked about the project’s status, Yakovlev responded evasively that they “were examining a few variants, which already represent existing melodies.” To decode this cryptic statement: they are considering (a) revising the Soviet anthem Indestructible Union (written by Alexander Alexandrov in 1943, see box) (b) updating Imperial Russia’s God Save the Tsar; or (c) continuing to grapple with The Patriotic Song.

But is it really possible to rework a dusty old anthem to reflect today’s Russia? Yakovlev must think so. And it appears he may favor option (a); he has asked Sergei Mikhalkov to put new words to anthem of the USSR. What experience does Mikhalkov bring to the task? Well, he did write the old lyrics to this same tune ...

This may be a wise choice on Yakovlev’s part. President Putin is reportedly sympathetic to Indestructible Union. An indication of this came recently when Tikhon Khrennikov (not only one of the Soviet Union’s most renowned composers, but also formerly chairman of the Union of Soviet Composers) was quoted on ORT TV channel saying that Glinka’s music was, of course, great but too complicated for the average singer: it has no refrain and in general does not have the structure of a typical anthem. Given Khrennikov’s former post and the fact that these statements were made on the country’s state-owned television network, it is not unreasonable to take this as a trial balloon floated by the Powers That Be.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was not that long ago. And Alexandrov’s anthem is something Putin and most Russians today grew up singing. It is familiar to the ear, mind and heart. But does that alone make “Indestructible Union” the best option?

Almost. Changing the words would not be a problem. But what about the ideological and sentimental baggage the melody carries (to say nothing of the illusory title and lyrics of the song—the Union was, in the end, quite destructible)?

Indeed, some will naturally ask: “If we resurrect the old anthem, in which direction is Russia moving, forward or back?” But then, the argument could be made that a musical score is just a musical score. One does not have to take a return of the Soviet anthem to signify a return of totalitarianism. President Putin himself noted well that “he who does not regret the collapse of the Soviet Union has no heart, but he who wants the Soviet Union back has no mind.” He also recently suggested that Russia must strive to carry forward with it anything good from the former Soviet Union. And, let’s face it: Alexandrov’s anthem was just good music!

— Darby Fanning and Mikhail Ivanov

Indestructible Union

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics,

Great Russia has welded forever to stand.

Created in struggle by will of the people,

United and mighty, our Soviet land!

Refrain

Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,

Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.

O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,

To Communism’s triumph lead us on!

Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us,

Along the new path where great Lenin did lead.

To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples,

Inspired them to labor and valorous deed.*

Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,

Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.

O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,

To Communism’s triumph lead us on!

In the vict’ry of Communism’s deathless ideal,

We see the future of our dear land.

And to her fluttering scarlet banner,

Selflessly true we always shall stand!

*Originally, the last two lines of this stanza read:

Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,

Inspire us to labor and valorous deed!