The Originals © by Arnold Rypens

WILHELMUS, HET

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	(anonymus)
(o):	Filips van Marnix, Heer van Sint-Aldegonde (1570)	label:
	Credited to Filips van Marnix, Lord of Sint-Aldegonde (who knew Prince Willem of Orange personally), written between 1568 and 1572. Oldest version found is a German one (1573), the oldest Dutch version is from 1574. Based upon the 'Tune of Chartres' (Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé), a song about a Huguenot attempt to capture the city of Chartres in 1568. 'Geuzenlied' in support of William of Orange's rebel cause against the Spanish, following his defeat in the battle of Heiligerlee. Consists of 15 eight-line stanzas, beginning with letters forming the name WILLEM VAN NASSOV. Lyrics are symmetrical: verse 1 and 15 are similar, 2 and 14, 3 and 13 etc. Verse 8 is neutral. Usually only the first and the sixth stanza are sung. Originally played twice as fast. It was a joyful tune, useful for both combat signals and dancing. In the nineteenth century the tempo slowed down. Melody used as trumpet warning in the army, in the navy and on special official occasions. On the battlefield the melody gave more courage than 10,000 extra soldiers, a situation similar to that of the French Marseillaise and the Belgian Brabançonne (see there). The official Dutch National Anthem since 1932.
(c):	anonymus (1577) [as Hoe Die Spaensche Hoeren Comen Klagen; mockery song following the Pacification of Ghent; songcatcher Ate Doornbosch managed to record a version on the isle of Terschelling in 1966], Fransje Vander Cruycen (1578) [as Nieuw Lied van de Martelaren van Holland - anti-Geuzenlied], Melchior Franck (1603) [polyphonic version], Richard Verstrepen (1622) [anti-geuzenlied as De Tocht Van De Brandstichters or Duivelsliedeken, ridiculing future Stadhouder Frederik Hendrik's slash and burn policy in Brabant], Adriaan Valerius (1626) [as notified in his Nederlandsche Gedenck-Clanck, the melody became the official Dutch national anthem since 1932; from then on even Catholics accepted it], Groen Van Prinsterer (1853) [as Het Wilhelmus der Geuzen - unacceptable as national hymn for Roman Catholics], Peter Benoit (1869) [in his Oratorium De Schelde], Eduard Kreuser (1877) [in his song cycle Sechs Altniederländische Volkslieder; here the once merry military melody gained romantic pomp like we know it today], Haagsche Regiments Muziek Corps (1899) [probably the oldest surviving recording (on Gramophone)], Johan Enschedé (1909) [at Paleis Het Loo with three versions], Stafmuziek 5de Regiment Infanterie (1936) , Willem Mengelberg & Concertgebouworkest (1938) [standard harmonisation], BZN (1971) , Stan Kenton (1972) , Sjef Van Oekel (1973) , Camerata Trajectina (1979) [on their lp Die Tyrranny Verdwijn and in 1984 on an lp around Willem van Oranje], Wim De Bie (1990) , Herman Van Veen (1994) , Bill Van Dijk (1996) [cd with all the stanzas], Westlands Mannenkoor (1997) [choir setting on cd Valerius' Gedenck-Clanck: 26 Vaderlandse Liederen], Camerata Trajectina (1998) [do the song of the Spaansche Hoeren on a cd commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Munster peace treaty], Duo Karst (1999) , An & Jan (2008) ,

During the reign of William V (1766-1795) the Wilhelmus became the Orange party's hymn, making it not neutral enough to become the national anthem. It became the kings song at the crowning of Willem's son in 1813. The people didn't sing along. Between 1815 and 1932, Hendrik Tollens' Wien Neêrlandsch Bloed was regarded as folk hymn #1 in Holland. Oldest known public performance: tenor Willem Pasques de Chavonnes Vrugt (1830).