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Die Matten grünen, die Alpen glühn, Die Wälder rauschen, die Reben blühn, Zu den Wolken steigen die Bergeshöhn. O Schweiz, o Schweiz[,] wie bist Du schön! Auf Firnen der helle demantne Schnee[,] Im Thale der blaue krystallne See! Es stürzt die Caskade, es braust der Föhn[;] O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön! Das Heerdengeläute, wie klingt es so weit, Du Sennenbube, du Sennenmaid! Fort trägt euern Reigen der Winde Wehn! O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön! Die Menschen umschlinget ein Liebesband, Sie reichen sich alle die Bruderhand; Wie die Alpen so fest und treu sie stehn; O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön!
Confirmed with Die Alpenpost. Blätter zur Förderung des Touristenverkehrs, zur Hebung der Curanstalten und der montanen Industrien und speziell zur Hege und Pflege der alpinen Wissenschaft , Band I. (Glarus, 17. Dezember 1871), Nro. 29, page 425.
Text Authorship:
- by (Carl Friedrich) Julius Altmann (1814 - 1873), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön", published 1877 [ men's chorus a cappella ], from Neue Gesänge für den Männerchor, no. 3, St. Gallen, Huber & Co [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön", published 1880 [ men's chorus ], from Neue Gesänge für den Männerchor, Heft 1, no. 4, St. Gallen, Zürich: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-16
Line count: 16
Word count: 109
The meadows grow green, the Alps glow, The forests sough, the grape-vines blossom, The mountain heights rise to the clouds. Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are! Upon the corn snow the bright diamond-like snow[,] In the valley the blue crystalline lake! The cascade plunges, the [Alpine-]föhn roars; Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are! The ringing of the cowbells, how it rings out so far, Ye cowherd, ye cow-tending maiden! The blowing of the wind carries off your roundelay! Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are! The people are entwined with a ribbon of love, They all extend a brotherly hand to one another; They stand as firm and faithful as the Alps; Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Carl Friedrich) Julius Altmann (1814 - 1873), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön"
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 126