Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse

"Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse"
"Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse"
March by Robert Planquette
	Sheet music cover
English	"The Regiment of the Sambre and Meuse"
Text	by Paul Cezano
Language	French
Premiere
Date	March 3, 1870
Location	Paris
Performers	Lucien Fugère

"Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse" (English: "Sambre-et-Meuse Regiment") is a French poem and military march by Robert Planquette and .

Background[]

Cezano penned the lyrics to "Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse" following the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, Planquette setting them to music shortly thereafter.^[1] Cezano was one of a number of French artists of the period who sought to reconcile the defeat of France with memories of its historic victories, with the song describing the achievement of human immortality through heroic death.^[1]

Play media

Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse performed by the Ohio State University Marching Band before a 2016 American football game against the University of Nebraska, followed by the singing of Buckeye Battle Cry.

1905 recording of Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse sung by Pierre d'Assy

It was first publicly performed by the baritone Lucien Fugère in a Paris cabaret on March 3, 1870.^[2] Quickly finding favor as a popular song, it became a part of the music curriculum in schools during the French Third Republic, and was used at other important moments in French history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.^[1] It was performed to accompany Alfred Dreyfus' degradation ceremony of 1895 and, during the First World War, to accompany the execution of traitors, though it later fell out of favor.^[1]

Use outside France[]

Since 1936, the Ohio State University Marching Band has performed Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse as part of its pregame show during the script Ohio formation.^[3]^[4] It is also a staple of the repertoire of the West Point Band, where it is known by the name French National Defile.^[3]

Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse is often used for marches of the Belgian military schools in Brussels (KMS) and Sint-Truiden (KSOO) because of the historic link of this song with Belgium. Also in the most southern part of The Netherlands, Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse, is played often, because of the historic link of this region with Belgium.

Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse is also used for the marchpast piece of the 1st Infantry Regiment Grenadiers Platoon of Chilean Army. And used for the marchpast piece of the Air Force Academy of Bolivia.

Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse is used as a marching song during the training of cadets and aspiring officers of the Brazilian Military Police in some states.

The march is also used in the Mexican Naval Academy (Heroica Escuela Naval Militar) for drill instructions and parades on special visits.

It was formerly the regimental march of the Royal 22nd Regiment of the Canadian Army until 1939.^[5]

Use in fiction[]

In Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, the character Sergeant Zim leads his soldiers in the singing of "oldies ... like Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse and Caissons".^[6]

Lyrics[]

French	English
1er couplet: Tous ces fiers enfants de la Gaule Allaient sans trêve et sans repos Avec leur fusil sur l'épaule Courage au cœur et sac au dos La gloire était leur nourriture Ils étaient sans pain, sans souliers La nuit, ils couchaient sur la dure Avec leur sac pour oreiller Refrain: Le régiment de Sambre et Meuse Marchait toujours au cri de "Liberté" Cherchant la route glorieuse Qui l'a conduit à l'immortalité	1st verse: All these proud children of Gaul Marched without respite or ease With their rifles on their shoulders Courage in their hearts and packs on their backs Glory was their nourishment With neither bread nor shoes They slept on the hard ground With their packs beneath their heads. Chorus: The regiment of "Sambre et Meuse" Always marched to the call of freedom Seeking the path of glory That led them to immortality

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sweeney, Regina (2001). Singing Our Way to Victory: French Cultural Politics and Music During the Great War. Wesleyan University Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0819564737.
^ Macy, Laura (2008). The Grove Book of Opera Singers. Oxford University Press. p. 172. ISBN 978-0195337655.
^ ^a ^b Tyler, Don (2016). Music of the First World War. ABC-CLIO. p. 245. ISBN 978-1440839979.
^ Fairman, Jonathan (2004). Script Ohio: 125 Years of the Ohio State University Marching Band. Kappa Kappa Psi. ISBN 0976421305.
^ "La Musique du Royal 22e Regiment (Royal 22nd Regiment Band)". Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^ Heinlein, Robert (1959). Starship Troopers. Penguin. p. 72.

External links[]

Complete lyrics
Modern interpretations: vocal
Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse (The Sambre and Meuse Regiment) on the site of the Fédération Nationale des Combattants Volontaires
"Le régiment de Sambre et Meuse": Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Le régiment de la musique de l'air "Sambre et Meuse"
Mexican Naval Academy (Heroica Escuela Naval Militar) using it on a special parade for civilian visits: [1]

[book-1] Sweeney, Regina (2001). Singing Our Way to Victory: French Cultural Politics and Music During the Great War. Wesleyan University Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0819564737.

[2] Macy, Laura (2008). The Grove Book of Opera Singers. Oxford University Press. p. 172. ISBN 978-0195337655.

[clio-3] Tyler, Don (2016). Music of the First World War. ABC-CLIO. p. 245. ISBN 978-1440839979.

[4] Fairman, Jonathan (2004). Script Ohio: 125 Years of the Ohio State University Marching Band. Kappa Kappa Psi. ISBN 0976421305.

[5] "La Musique du Royal 22e Regiment (Royal 22nd Regiment Band)". Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved September 1, 2019.

[6] Heinlein, Robert (1959). Starship Troopers. Penguin. p. 72.

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