The "Anthem of May Day", also known as the "Song of Labour", is a patriotic song used on May Day in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. It was written and composed by Methodius Grigorov.
| English: Anthem of May Day | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | (English: "Song of Labour") |
| Lyrics | Georgi Kirkov |
| Music | Georgi Goranov |
History
editThe lyrics of the song were written by Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party activist Georgi Kirkov, and were published in 1898 in the "Red People's Calendar" almanac. It was partly inspired by the lyrics of the Austrian social democratic anthem "Lied der Arbeit" from 1868.[1]
Initially, Kirkov's poem was recited at gatherings of social democrats. In 1900, composer Georgi Goranov composed a melody for the lyrics. The song was performed for the first time on 24 May 1903 in Kyustendil. In the following years, it gained popularity among socialist circles and was often performed.[2][3]
In 1912, the poem was translated into Serbo-Croatian as it gained popularity in Yugoslavia, and the song eventually became widely known in the Yugoslav socialist movement.[4] It was also translated into Albanian, and this version, known as "Kënga e şişti" was used by communists in Kosovo.[5]
Lyrics
edit| Bulgarian original | Romanization of Bulgarian | Serbo-Croatian version | English translation |
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References
edit- ^ USMENA REVOLUCIONARNA POEZIJA KOD JUŽNIH SLAVENA (2006). Fehratović, Jahja. Balkanski književni glasnik.
- ^ Вече 116 години на 1 май звучи „Дружна песен“ (1 May 2019).
- ^ Маршът "Дружна песен" – музикална емблема на първомайските чествания в миналото (2022-05-01). Bezovska, Albena. Radio Bulgaria.
- ^ Narodna umjetnost : hrvatski časopis za etnologiju i folkloristiku, Vol. 27 No. 1 (1990)
- ^ Muzika i muzičari u NOB, zbornik sećanja (str. 206), Beograd, 1982.