The Czech Republic’s Olympic Committee has suggested an overhaul of the country’s national anthem to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.

They have commissioned several new arrangements of the anthem, including a vocals-free version specifically for sporting events. 

Kde domov můj (Where is my home), was adopted as Czechoslovakia’s anthem in 1918, with one verse in Czech, followed by a second verse with a different melody in Slovak.

According to the initiators, the Czech national anthem, which was composed by František Škroup in 1834, should sound more dignified and patriotic. 

The new arrangement re-instates a largely forgotten Czech-language second verse by original lyricist Josef Kajetán Tyl, and features a more complex orchestral style to that of composer František Škroup’s original.

Author: red