A HYMN TO THE UNITED NATIONS

A HYMN TO THE UNITED NATIONS Music: Pablo Casals Words: Wystan Auden Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus of the National Academic Bolshoj Opera Theatre of Belarus Conductor: Vyachaslau Bartnouski Choirmaster: Nina Lamanovich Though many songs have been written about the United Nations, there is no official anthem for the Organization. One such song was written and performed at the United Nations Headquarters on 24 October 1971, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations. Her authors were famous Spanish composer Pablo Casals and classic of English poetry Whystan Auden. The two prominent authors, though they had never met, were brought together by then UN Secretary-General U Thant. As the Secretary-General explained, the song was to be based on the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations. Although it would not be formally adopted as the official anthem of the United Nations, U Thant hoped it would be performed on appropriate occasions. A Hymn to the United Nations can only be used in official UN events, such as observance of United Nations Day. It cannot be used for commercial purposes, or outside of the UN aegis. HYMN TO THE UNITED NATIONS Music: Pablo Casals Words: Wystan Auden Eagerly, musician. Sweep your string, So we may sing. Elated, optative, Our several voices Interblending, Not interfering But co-inhering, For all within The cincture of the sound, Is holy ground Where all are brothers, None faceless Others, Let mortals beware Of words, for With words we lie, Can say peace When we mean war, Foul thought speak- fair And promise falsely, But song is true: Let music for peace Be the paradigm, For peace means to change At the right time, as the World- Clock Goes Tick- and Tock, Goes Tick- and tock So may the story Of our human city Presently move Like music, when Begotten notes New notes beget Making the flowing, Of time a growing Till what it could be, At last it is, Where even sadness Is a form of gladness, Where fate is freedom, Grace and Surprise. . A Hymn to the UN was first time performed in Belarus by the Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus of the National Academic Bolshoj Opera Theatre of Belarus (conductor -- Viachaslau Bartnouski, choirmaster -- Nina Lamanovich) on 24 October 2005, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations. The record was made at the studio of the Belarusian Radio (sound engineer -- N.N.) in January 2006.