Velvet Revolution anthem and Hussite hymn among six Czech songs selected for EU songbook
Marta Kubišová’s Prayer for Marta, the unofficial anthem of the Velvet Revolution, and the Hussite chant Ktož jsú boží bojovníci, or All You Mighty Warriors of God, are among the six Czech songs selected for the first-ever EU Songbook, published on Tuesday.
The idea to create a European Union Songbook began in Copenhagen in 2015, with the aim of celebrating the rich cultural diversity of each member state. Lukáš Prchal from the Czech Choral Union, who oversaw the selection process for Czechia, explains how it worked:
“There are six categories in each language. Music schools, conservatories, and other professionals selected a few dozen songs, which was followed by a public vote on the Internet. In Czechia, voting took place on Czech Radio’s website iRozhlas, radio Frekvence 1, and other platforms.”
More than 2,000 people across Czechia took part in the online vote, selecting winners in categories like Freedom and Peace, Love Songs, Nature and Seasons, Folk Songs and Traditionals, Faith and Spirituality, and Children’s Songs. Lukáš Prchal describes some of the selected pieces:
“For example, in the Liberty and Peace category, the famous song Modlitba pro Martu, closely associated with the Velvet Revolution, was chosen by popular vote, which I think sends a powerful message. In the category of ancient songs, the medieval chant Ktož jsú Boží Bojovníci was chosen, making it the second oldest song in the entire songbook.”
What makes the EU Songbook unique is that all 164 songs from across the union have been translated into English, allowing them to be sung in either the original or translated versions. Zuzana Čtveráčková, who was in charge of translating the Czech songs, explains the challenge of adapting the lyrics:
“When you translate a song, you not only have to translate the words, but also ensure that people can actually sing it. You have to respect the music, the rhythm, the verses, the stresses, and the musical phrasing. Sometimes, you even have to use completely different words so that the meaning remains the same.”
Perhaps surprisingly, Čtveráčková found that the hardest song to translate wasn’t the medieval chant, but a children’s song by the well-loved songwriting duo Zdeněk Svěrák and Jaroslav Uhlíř.
“It’s a very well-known song called Není nutno in Czech. Since it’s a children’s song, you need it to remain child-friendly, simple, and able to stand on its own. It was part of a film, and all the children know it well, but it also has to make sense for those who don’t know the story behind it.”
In addition to being published as a book, the songbook is also available for free as an app, allowing users to not only read the lyrics but also listen to the recordings, thanks to links to YouTube.
