Land der Berge, Land am Strome (Land of the mountains, land on the river) is the national anthem of Austria. Nineteen days before his death on December 5th, 1791 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his last complete work, the "Freimaurerkantate", KV 623. In parts of the edition of this cantata there appeared the "Chain Song", KV 623a. To this melody the Austrian National Anthem is sung. According to leading musicologists in Vienna, this tune was not written by Mozart, but by Johann Holzer, a Freemason Brother of his, and composer of many songs. The lyrics were written by the Austrian writer Paula von Preradovic. On October 22, 1946 it was declared Austria's official national anthem. In 2005, Women's Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat stated her objection to the words 'sons', 'fraternal' and 'Fatherland' in the lyrics, and has proposed changes, however this was quickly dismissed as a newsitem in times of little other news.

German lyrics

Land der Berge, Land am Strome,
Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,
Land der Hämmer zukunftsreich!
Heimat bist du großer Söhne,
Volk begnadet für das Schöne,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich!

Heiß umfehdet, wild umstritten,
Liegst dem Erdteil du inmitten
Einem starken Herzen gleich.
Hast seit frühen Ahnentagen
Hoher Sendung Last getragen,
Vielgeprüftes Österreich,
Vielgeprüftes Österreich.

Mutig in die neuen Zeiten,
Frei und gläubig sieh uns schreiten,
Arbeitsfroh und hoffnungsreich.
Einig laß in Bruderchören,
Vaterland, dir Treue schwören.
Vielgeliebtes Österreich,
Vielgeliebtes Österreich.

English translation

Land of mountains, land at the river,
Land of fields, land of cathedrals,
Land of hammers, with a rich future,
You are the home of great sons,
A nation blessed by its sense of beauty,
Highly praised Austria,
Highly praised Austria!

Strongly feuded for, fiercely hard-fought for,
You are in the centre of the Continent
Like a strong heart,
You have borne since the earliest days
The burden of a high mission,
Much tried Austria,
Much tried Austria.

Courageously, into new times,
Watch us striding free and believing,
Working cheerfully and full of hope,
In fraternal chorus let us take in unity
The oath of allegiance to you, our country,
Much beloved Austria,
Much beloved Austria.