Peter Zajac: CenÂtral EuroÂpean NationÂal Anthems
The study conÂsidÂers anthems to be politÂiÂcal symÂbols that came into exisÂtence at the develÂopÂment of moÂdern politÂiÂcal nations in the 19th cenÂtuÂry. The nationÂal anthems are from politÂiÂcal point of view relatÂed to the creÂation of moÂdern politÂiÂcal symÂbolÂs, from the point of view of hisÂtoÂry of culÂture relatÂed to the creÂation of nationÂal and culÂturÂal idenÂtiÂty conÂsciousÂness, and/or to the creÂation of nationÂal myths and majesty esthetÂicÂs, from the point of view of litÂerÂaÂture is relatÂed to anthem genÂres and eschaÂtoÂlogÂiÂcal topic and askÂing reward for hisÂtorÂiÂcal sufÂferÂings.
From the point of view of esthetÂicÂs, the CenÂtral EuroÂpean anthems belong to the terÂriÂtoÂry of majesty esthetÂicÂs, to that terÂriÂtoÂry that defines majesty in origÂiÂnal terms of SchilÂler and Kant, i.e. as a natÂuÂral and hisÂtorÂiÂcal pheÂnomÂeÂna.
ThereÂfore, the anthems express nature verÂtiÂcalÂly, that is as a mix of admiÂraÂtion comÂing from majesty and fear from a horÂriÂfiÂcaÂtion, and horÂiÂzonÂtalÂly as a lost parÂadisÂe.
ConÂsidÂerÂing time, from hisÂtorÂiÂcal point of view CenÂtral EuroÂpean anthems focus on sufÂferÂings that took place through decades that later bring the long-awaitÂed redempÂtion – the terÂriÂtoÂriÂal expanÂsion.
The joint feaÂture of CenÂtral EuroÂpean anthems is to express speÂcial nationÂal fate, using myths of simÂiÂlar type. The transÂfer of wordÂs, and/or melodies from one anthem to anothÂer proves this.