The National Anthem of the Republic of Gylias
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National anthem of  Gylias | |
| Music | Danat Mæţyş |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 18 September 1959 |
The National Anthem of the Republic of Gylias (Gylian French: L'hymne nationale d'l'République d'Gylias) is the official anthem of Gylias. Written by Gylian musician Danat Mæţyş, it is notable as one of the few national anthems in Tyran to have no official lyrics.
The anthem was adopted on 18 September 1959 through the Law on National Symbols of 1959. Danat's untitled composition was chosen through a national contest to create national symbols that would represent all Gylians equally, which also yielded the flag and seal. Darnan Cyras was involved in the selection process, and supported Danat's anthem because he considered its somber melody and atmosphere appropriate for a country that had endured the Liberation War. Danat explained in a 1981 interview that the composition he submitted was originally written as a dirge to commemorate the loss of his parents during the war.
The official recording of the anthem was made by a string quartet in Geksian. The low fidelity of the recording — the result of working with poor equipment in a partially-bombed recording studio — and slow tempo gave the anthem a funereal quality. The anthem also does not have a proper melody, instead featuring a succession of chords. These departures from conventional anthem characteristics make it well-known in Tyran, but have also made it a target of criticism from commentators. Esua Nadel famously quipped, "It's not an anthem, it's a funeral march." Other politicians and commentators have expressed the opinion that the anthem is overly gloomy, and does not accurately reflect Gylias' successes after independence.
Despite these criticisms, the anthem has been gradually been embraced by the public as one of Gylias' national symbols. There have been attempts over the years to write lyrics, but none have been made official. The anthem is famously difficult to sing due to its slow tempo and lack of melody — when played at official events, the general practice is to wordlessly sing along with the leading violin part. Its sole official arrangement is for string quartet, although unofficial adaptations of it exist for other instruments and genres.
Due to its somber aspect, the anthem is accorded less prominence in public life compared to other Tyranian nations. It is not played at sporting events, sung in public schools, nor used by the GNBS to mark the beginning and ending of programming. It is mainly played at Rememberance Day ceremonies, Republic Day ceremonies, state visits, and similar official occasions.
