German National Anthem (Orchestre national d'Île-de-France Edition)

The tune of the German national anthem was composed in 1796 by Austrian Joseph Haydn and was first performed in 1797 for the birthday of Holy Roman emperor Francis II; it was called “Kaiserhymne” (“Emperor’s Hymn”). Its first lines were “Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz!” (“God preserve Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis!”). Haydn further developed the theme in his string quartet known as the Emperor Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3. Although the lyrics changed with the names of the emperors, the tune remained in official use until Austria-Hungary collapsed in 1918.