National Anthem: Germany - Deutschlandlied [NEW VERSION]

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Germany. Deutschlandlied, ( German: “Song of Germany”) official national anthem of Germany from 1922 to 1945, of West Germany from 1950 to 1990, and of reunified Germany from 1990. The tune of the German national anthem was composed in 1796 by Austrian Joseph Haydn and was first performed in 1797 for the birthday of Holy Roman emperor Francis II; it was called “Kaiserhymne” (“Emperor’s Hymn”). Its first lines were “Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, Unsern guten Kaiser Franz!” (“God preserve Francis the Emperor, Our good Emperor Francis!”). Haydn further developed the theme in his string quartet known as the Emperor Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3. Although the lyrics changed with the names of the emperors, the tune remained in official use until Austria-Hungary collapsed in 1918. Decades before that happened, however, the tune was adopted by nationalist poet and university professor August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben for use with a new set