| Albanian: italic=no|Himni i Flamurit | |
| English Title: | 'Hymn to the Flag' |
| Prefix: | National |
| Country: | Albania |
| Author: | Asdreni |
| Lyrics Date: | 1912 |
| Composer: | Ciprian Porumbescu |
| Sound: | Hymni i Flamurit instrumental.ogg |
| Sound Title: | Instrumental rendition in A-flat major by the U.S. Navy Band (single verse) |
"Albanian: italic=no|Himni i Flamurit" ('Hymn to the Flag') is the national anthem of Albania, adopted in 1912. Its music is derived from the Romanian patriotic song "Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire", composed by Ciprian Porumbescu.[1] The lyrics, was written by Albanian poet Asdreni. The anthem was originally titled "Albanian: italic=no|Betimi mbi Flamur" ("The Pledge on the Flag").[2]
On 21 April 1912, "Albanian: italic=no|Betimi mbi Flamur" was first published as a poem in Albanian: Liri e Shqipërisë, an Albanian newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was later printed in a volume of poems by Drenova titled Albanian: Ëndra e lotë (Dreams and Tears) which was published in Bucharest. According to Lasgush Poradeci's memoirs, the anthem, created by the adaptation of the text to the music, was not originally intended to be a national anthem, but it was so well liked by the people that it was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1912, and it was with its music that the Albanian flag was raised during the Albanian Proclamation of Independence in Vlore.[2]
A Hungarian composer, György Ligeti, opined that the music composed by Porumbescu is rooted in Germanic and Austrian musical traditions, though this is not a definitive groundbreaking explanation of its influence and later creation. It is a view based on Porumbescu's musical education, since he had studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. The view has been shared by Albanian musicologist, Ramadan Sokoli.[2]
The second half of each verse is considered refrain and is repeated. Usually only the first stanza of the anthem is performed, such as during sporting events.
Albanian has historically been written in a number of different alphabets, and alternate alphabets are used to write different Albanian dialects.