Sheet Music: God Save the Tsar!

TitleGod Save the Tsar!
Alternate titlesБоже, Царя храни!
God, the Omnipotent!
Hail, Pennsylvania!
Dear Old Macalester
Hail, Delta Upsilon
Firm Bound in Brotherhood
Raise Now to Westover
ComposerAlexei Lvov (1799–1870)
InstrumentationFlute and Piano
KeyF major
RangeF4–F5
Time signature4/4
Tempo80 BPM
Performance time1:35
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (74 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (1.4 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (1.4 MB)
Date added2015-11-30
Last updated2015-11-30
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.4 (below average)
Categories
National anthems, Patriotic

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Monday 30 November 2015

Tune of the Day: God Save the Tsar!

National anthem of the former Russian Empire

This song, composed by violinist Alexei Lvov, was chosen as the national anthem of the Russian Empire in a competition held in 1833. It was the anthem until the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Many composers made use of the theme in their compositions, most notably Tchaikovsky, who quoted it in the 1812 Overture, the Marche Slave, his overture on the Danish national anthem, and the Festival Coronation March. During the Soviet era, authorities altered Tchaikovsky's music, substituting other patriotic melodies, such as the “Glory” chorus from Mikhail Glinka's opera A Life for the Tsar, for “God Save the Tsar”. Charles Gounod used the theme in his Fantaisie sur l'Hymne National Russe (Fantasy on the Russian National Hymn).

Today, Lvov's melody is used with different lyrics for various institutional songs: “Hail, Pennsylvania!” (alma mater of the University of Pennsylvania), “Dear Old Macalester” (alma mater of Macalester College), “Hail, Delta Upsilon” (Delta Upsilon Fraternity), “Firm Bound in Brotherhood” (official song of the Order of the Arrow), and many others.

Maurice Jarre's score for the famous film 1965 film Doctor Zhivago also uses this song in several tracks, most notably in the Overture.

Thanks to Steve for suggesting this tune!