Continuing my series on the national symbols of Kyrgyzstan (the flag, yurts, and hats among other subjects), let’s learn about a musical part of Kyrgyzstan: its national anthem, or “National Hymn” to translate the title a bit more literally.
Part of building a new country is defining some of the national symbols of the nation, and a big step is the National Anthem. Kyrgyzstan had previously been a part of the Soviet Union, which used The Internationale (the international anthem of Communism) from its founding until 1944, then the State Anthem of the Soviet Union until 1991. According to a few sources, the anthem was translated into Kyrgyz, and sung in Kyrgyz here. If the melody sounds familiar, it’s probably because The State Anthem of the Soviet Union’s melody is now used with different lyrics as the National Anthem Of Russia, and it’s a stunningly beautiful and patriotic piece of music, particularly when sung in the Russian choral style.
The Kirghiz SSR also had its own National Anthem though: the Anthem of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. Let’s take a listen:
Here’s the lyrics, with the common and easily predictable themes of yay Lenin, yay October, and yay Communism (music by Vladimir Vlasov, Abdylas Maldybaev and Vladimir Fere, lyrics by Kubanychbek Malikov, Tulgebay Sydykbekov, Mukanbet Toktobaev, and Aaly Tokombaev).
Kyrgyz
Russian
English
Азаттыкты Кыргыз эңсеп турганда,
Ала-Тоосун Октябрдын таңы аткан.
Улуу орус достук менен кол берип,
Ленин бизге бак-таалайга жол ачкан.
Жаша, Кыргызстаным,
Ленин туусу колуңда.
Алгалай бер, гүлдөй бер,
Коммунизм жолунда!
Эмгек, эрдик, күрөштөрдө такшалтып,
Таалай берген улуу Совет калкына.
Жеңиштерден жеңиштерге алпарат,
Элдин күчү – Лениндик партия.
Жаша, Кыргызстаным,
Ленин туусу колуңда.
Алгалай бер, гүлдөй бер,
Коммунизм жолунда!
Эл достугун болоттон бек ширетип,
Көп улуттан Союз курдук урагыс.
Жандай сүйүп даңктуу Ата Мекенди,
Түбөлүкке Коммунизм курабыз.
Жаша, Кыргызстаным,
Ленин туусу колуңда.
Алгалай бер, гүлдөй бер,
Коммунизм жолунда!
Киргизы жаждали свободы восход,
Октябрь светом Ала-Тоо озарил,
Дружбой согрел нас великий русский народ,
Ленин всем нам дорогу к счастью открыл.
Славься, наш киргизский край,
Вперёд шествуй и цвети,
Знамя Ленина вздымай
К коммунизму на пути!
Вырастив в подвигах борьбы и труда
И одарив счастьем советский народ,
Партия Ленина — сила народная
К новым победам нашу страну ведёт.
Славься, наш киргизский край,
Вперёд шествуй и цвети,
Знамя Ленина вздымай
К коммунизму на пути!
Союз наций свободных несокрушим,
Дружба народов наших, как сталь, крепка,
К Отчизне беззаветно любовь мы храним,
И коммунизм мы построим на века!
Славься, наш киргизский край,
Вперёд шествуй и цвети,
Знамя Ленина вздымай
К коммунизму на пути!
The Kyrgyz, longing for freedom rose,
October’s lights the Ala-Too did lit,
the great Russian people warmed us with friendship,
Lenin opened the road to happiness for all of us.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise up Lenin’s banner.
March forward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
Grown in the exploits of fight and labour
providing happiness to the Soviet people.
Leading our country to new victories,
the power of the people – Lenin’s party.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise up Lenin’s banner.
March forward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
The union of free nations is indestructible,
the friendship of our peoples is strong as steel,
selflessly we love our Fatherland,
we will build Communism for the centuries to come.
Be famous, our Kyrgyzstan,
raise Lenin’s banner.
March onward and flourish
on to Communism’s way!
But in 1991, 25 years ago, Kyrgyzstan became independent, and that meant forming its own identity. In December 1992, parliament approved the new anthem, with music by Nasyr Davlesov and Kalyi Moldobasanov and lyrics by Djamil Sadykov and Eshmambet Kuluev.
Let’s take a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMh2G3nuEFU
It’s pretty beautiful and patriotic, right? The Kyrgyz lyrics are in this video, and are transcribed here, with English translation on the right (By the way – all the lyrics in this article are copied from Wikipedia. I didn’t sit and transcribe it!). The piece focuses on the land and history of the Kyrgyz people, and a big theme particularly in the refrain is self-reliance and working together towards the better future of the country.
Kyrgyz
English
Ак мөңгүлүү аска зоолор, талаалар,
Элибиздин жаны менен барабар.
Сансыз кылым Ала-Тоосун мекендеп,
Сактап келди биздин ата-бабалар.
Алгалай бер, кыргыз эл,
Азаттыктын жолунда.
Өркүндөй бер, өсө бер,
Өз тагдырың колуңда.
Байыртадан бүткөн мүнөз элиме,
Досторуна даяр дилин берүүгө.
Бул ынтымак эл бирдигин ширетип,
Бейкуттукту берет кыргыз жерине.
Алгалай бер, кыргыз эл,
Азаттыктын жолунда.
Өркүндөй бер, өсө бер,
Өз тагдырың колуңда.
Аткарылып элдин үмүт, тилеги,
Желбиреди эркиндиктин желеги.
Бизге жеткен ата салтын, мурасын,
Ыйык сактап урпактарга берели.
Алгалай бер, кыргыз эл,
Азаттыктын жолунда.
Өркүндөй бер, өсө бер,
Өз тагдырың колуңда.
White-capped rocky cliffs and steppes
are equal to the soul of our people.
For countless centuries, our fathers
have lived in and kept the Ala-Too.
March forward, Kyrgyz people,
on the way to freedom!
Prosperity and progress,
your own fate is in your hands!
Long ago, our friendly people
completed and gave us the clasp to nature.
We acquired an accord of harmony
and peace over the Kyrgyz land.
March forward, Kyrgyz people,
on the way to freedom!
Prosperity and progress,
your own fate is in your hands!
Our hopes and aspirations have been fulfilled,
our people wave the flag of freedom.
The tradition of our fathers came to us,
let generations keep our holy heritage.
March forward, Kyrgyz people,
on the way to freedom!
Prosperity and progress,
your own fate is in your hands!
Since Russian is an official language of Kyrgyzstan, there also exists an official Russian version, with slightly altered lyrics for the rhyme and meter.
Russian
English
Высокие горы, долины, поля –
Родная, заветная наша земля.
Отцы наши жили среди Ала-Тоо
Всегда свою родину свято храня.
Вперед, кыргызский народ,
Путем свободы вперед!
Взрастай, народ, расцветай,
Свою судьбу созидай!
Извечно народ наш для дружбы открыт,
Единство и дружбу он в сердце хранит.
Земля Киргизстана, родная страна
Лучами согласия озарена.
Вперед, кыргызский народ,
Путем свободы вперед!
Взрастай, народ, расцветай,
Свою судьбу созидай!
Мечты и надежды отцов сбылись.
И знамя свободы возносиця ввысь.
Наследье отцов наших передадим
На благо народа потомкам своим
Вперед, кыргызский народ,
Путем свободы вперед!
Взрастай, народ, расцветай,
Свою судьбу созидай!
High mountains, valleys and fields
Are our native, holy land.
Our fathers lived amidst the Ala-Too,
Always saving their motherland.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
Our eternal people are open to friendship,
Unity and friendship are kept in our hearts.
The land of Kyrgyzstan, our native state
The rays with consent have illuminated.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
Dreams of the people came true,
And the flag of liberty is over us.
The heritage of our fathers we will
Pass to our sons for the benefit of people.
Come on, Kyrgyz people,
Come on to freedom!
Stand up and flourish!
Create your fortune!
Our national anthem here is used to open many ceremonies, sport matches, and events just as it is in many other countries. People stand, place their hands over their hearts, and some will sing along. Usually only an instrumental version is played, but in cases where the lyrics are needed, it’s almost always the Kyrgyz-language version that’s played from what I can see.
I remember quite distinctly a few times hearing it, because it can’t help but make you feel patriotic to hear people singing a piece like this. I’ve always loved the “Red Army Choir” genre of patriotic songs (for lack of a better descriptor), and this is another that makes me feel warm and patriotic inside. Kyrgyzstan’s a pretty awesome place, and it deserves an awesome anthem like this. Take a listen, learn a few words, and practice reading in Cyrillic!
Heard other anthems you’re curious or inspired by? Let me know in the comments!
