"Maritza/Maritsa Rushes", also known as the "Chernyaev March", was the Bulgarian national anthem from 1886 until 1947. The music was derived from the German folk song Wenn die Soldaten durch die Stadt marschieren that was popular in Bulgaria during the mid-19th century. The original text was written by Nikola Zhivkov, a head teacher in Veles (now in North Macedonia). The lyrics were edited many times, most notably in 1912 by the poet Ivan Vazov. The title refers to the Maritsa, a river in the Balkans.
History
History of the melody
In 1839 in Breslau, the poet Alexander Kosmar created the satirical farce "The Pirates". Originally, the song was performed with entertainment and satirical sense in cabarets. It quickly gained popularity, and soon the melody of the song became the German song "Wenn die Soldaten durch die Stadt marschieren".
The melody of the anthem was introduced to Bulgaria by Atanas Gratinski. He heard the song in the city of Shumen, when the Crocus Orchestra from Hungarian emigrants that settled in the city performed the German song „Wenn die Soldaten durch die Stadt marschiern“ ("When the Soldiers March Through the City"). The melody inspired Gratinski to adjust the song to the poem Sunshine which he created between 1855 and 1856 and taught the song to his students. The song become popular in Bulgaria.
In the beginning of 1925, a competition for musical harmonization of the anthem was announced. The scientific archive of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences maintains 15 projects for the composition, some of which composed anonymously, while the other projects was composed by Georgi Atanasov, Ivan Kasabov, Nikola Yordanov, Dobri Hristov and other composers.
In 1935 a proposal was made to merge this song with the royal anthem of Bulgaria. The proposal was worked on by Pancho Vladigerov and Menakhem Bensusan, but it eventually failed. However, after the project, the royal anthem was performed after "Maritza Roars" without interruption.
History of the lyrics
Nikola Zhivkov created the lyrics of the song when he was among the Bulgarian volunteers who participated in the Serbian-Turkish war that broke out in 1876. He created the song because of his admiration to the personality and charisma of General Mikhail Chernyayev, who commands the Bulgarian volunteers. The song was originally composed under the title of "Chernyaev March". The melody of the song was inspired by the musical poem Sunshine.
The "Chernyaev March" was first published in 1877 in the newspaper Sekidnevni Novinar by S.P. Bobekov, and then in 1878 in the album Gusla i pesni.
The title of the song was later changed to „Shumi Maritza“ at the play Ilyo Voyvoda. The song was published at the end of the play.
The lyrics of the song underwent a major revision by poet Ivan Vazov in 1912. Covered by the patriotic enthusiasm after the first victories during the Balkan War, the folk poet wrote almost entirely new lyrics of the song, borrowing motifs from his own poem Maritza rushes bloodily, which would be the first and second line of the song. He published it for the first time on 4 December 1912 with the following editorial note:
For a long time, a necessary reference was made to the text of the historic Bulgarian march, written as it is known, by the late Nikola Zhivkov. His rhythm text, which does not always correspond to the music of a march, connects unlucky poems, and these flaws unpleasantly annoy the ear and taste of the singing of 'Shumi Maritza'. With the ubiquitous admiration that today's warfare arouses on this march, its textual corrections have become imperative to have the world in the mood of its kind.
Another minor revision was done in 1914. The revision appeared in the poem collection Under the Thunder of Victories. Because of the World War I, the revision gained small attention. This has led Ivan Vazov to republish the text in his poem Songs for Macedonia 1913–1916 printed in 1916 with the following remark:
Unfortunately, today, it was a habit, perhaps our unpardonable tastelessness, 'Shumi Maritza' is sung when it becomes necessary, most of the old stupid text, which we are ashamed of foreigners when they are translated. That's why, hoping to be remembered by everyone, I reprinted this revision of our anthem.
There are some other attempts to revise the text in the following years, but proved unsuccessful.
Usage of the anthem
The anthem was used as the official Bulgarian anthem from the Bulgarian unification in 1885, and was relinquished in 1947, replaced by the anthem "Our Republic, Hail!".
Notable performances of the anthem
The anthem was last played as the national anthem of Bulgaria on 1 January 1947 by the Red Army's Alexandrov Ensemble, at a reception given by the President of the 6th Grand National Assembly, Vasil Kolarov.
According to the newspaper "Fatherland Front", the Botev celebrations in Bulgaria was opened on 2 June 1947 with "Maritza Rushes".
Status of the anthem in the Bulgarian People's Republic
The anthem served as a de facto anthem in the Bulgarian People's Republic, due to the absence of mention of the anthem at the constitution of that time, the Dimitrov Constitution.
During the era of the Bulgarian People's Republic, "Maritza Rushes" is almost always associated negatively. During these times, the lyricist Ivan Vazov was considered a petite bourgeoisie. During the regime, the song was considered to be written by a bourgeois poet, performed during bourgeois times, and was reminiscent of the monarchical regime. Even though the anthem was considered bourgeois, there was no indication that the anthem was banned during the regime.
Proposals of the readoption of the anthem
During the discussion for the new constitution of Bulgaria in the 7th Grand National Assembly, there are some proposals submitted for a new anthem. The most popular proposal include the readoption of "Maritza Rushes" as the national anthem of Bulgaria.
The anthem was the standard march of the Bulgarian Army in the battlefield. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War and the Balkan Wars, the Bulgarian Army fought while chanting the anthem's lyrics. The military orchestra constantly plays the anthem during the battle, even when their instruments are shot by enemy bullets and broken by grenades.
Russo-Turkish War
During the Second Battle of Shipka Pass in the Russo-Turkish War, the Russian command saw that the spiked position couldn't be held back any more. General Stoletov, the commander of the Bulgarian forces, took a decision to retreat. The Russian regiments retreat along the Gabrovo highway to slow Turkish troops. The Bulgarian volunteers were at the Shipka Peak, while the Turkish forces were en route to capture the Bulgarian positions. Bravely, Major Chilyayev stood on a rock and sang "Maritza Rushes". When they heard it, the volunteers stopped and slammed their march, and threw themselves in a bayonet charge. The Turks saw the frenzied Bulgarians in front of them and retreated from their position.
Serbo-Bulgarian War
During the Battle of Slivnitsa, part of the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885, a large group of the Serbian Army was defending their positions at Slivnitsa and was reinforced before by a 135-kilometer march from southern Bulgaria to the Slivnitsa position. When the two battalions of the Serbian Army' Danubian Regiment arrived on the battlefield, Captain Benderev as the commander of the Bulgarian Army issued order to take Serbian positions immediately. This attack of the Danube Regiment is the most glorious and most important moment in Bulgarian history. Without a fight, in the performance of "Maritza Rushes", the Danube Regiment quickly climbed on a steep cliff. When the Serbian Army heard the lyrics, they escaped panically. The attack by the Bulgarian Army ended the battle with the Serbs retreating.
Balkan Wars
First Balkan War
On 16 October 1912, at Karaağaç, the commander of the 18th King Ferdinand I regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Antonov saw the advancing Turkish infantry battalions. He took over the regal shrine and with a sword taken out, under the anthem's lyrics performed by the regimental brass band, he led the attack of his army. The attacking forces of the Turkish Army were dismissed, and the regiment's advance and division continued with complete success.
On the night of 12 March 1913, the commander of the 23rd "Shipka" Infantry Regiment received the task of storming the Ayvaz Baba, a fort in the eastern sector of the Edirne defence. The regiment commander, Colonel Ivan Pashinov, judged that he would not be able to pass the wire barriers on the fortress. Nevertheless, he brought with him the regimental flag and, during the performance of "Maritza Rushes" by the regimental music, he led his regiment forward. Under a hail of bullets and shrapnels, the regiment overcame the enemy wire barriers, and at approximately 5:30 pm on 13 March, the regimental flag waved over the captured Ayvaz Baba fort.
Second Balkan War
During the Second Balkan War in the summer of 1913, when the Modra Wall (Serbia) attacked, the 34th "Trojan" Infantry Regiment, headed by its captain, found itself behind the right wing of the Serbs. Frightened by the setting, he ordered the musicians to lie down in a clearing. At that time Trojans started the attack. The Captainmaster raises his subordinates and the boxing music starts playing "Shumi Maritza". This gives forces to the attackers, and the enemy begins escaping, as during the Serbian-Bulgarian War. Of the captured prisoners, it is understood that against the Bulgarian four companies, the Serbian command has opposed an infantry brigade with two artillery batteries and 22 machine guns. To the question of why their escapes have left their positions, the captives responded.