National anthems

This collaborative project within DIANE catalogues and explores the transnational roots of national and regional anthems in Europe. National anthems have been described as ‘possibly the strongest, clearest statement of national identity’. While individual case-studies point out that many of these national symbols had in fact transnational roots, historiography of this genre remains remarkably secluded within the national borders. This innovative research will study national anthems in a much broader sense, including the cultural and intellectual transfers between different national and regional musical and literary traditions and language areas in Europe.