Paper on Music in Times of Conflict



"Ktož jsú boží bojovníci"

(English translation "Ye Who Are Warriors of God")

(1. Song MP3)

A little History

The beginning of the fifteenth century in Bohemia (current Czech Republic) was marked by a Christian movement following teachings of Czech reformer, priest, philosopher, and teacher at Charles University in Prague, Jan Hus (1369-1415). It can be said that they were starting a Protestant movement that culminated almost a hundred years later with Martin Luther in Germany and John Calvin in France. At that time in Bohemia it had also social and national subtext. In 1414 Jan Hus was arrested by Roman Catholic Council of Constance and a year later shockingly for his followers condemned and burned on stake. In Czech lands news of his sudden death provoked considerable resentment and disturbances broke out. They were directed mainly against clergy and monks (3. Hussite.)

In the following years of 1415-1419 Hussite (followers of J. Hus) became better organized and they also armed themselves. They created a religious commune of laymen and peasants with democratic principles. They allowed women to be members and also Czech lords took part in this movement. They established new town named Tabor that was ingeniously fortified. The Hussite’s revolution swept the country of Bohemia; churches were destroyed, properties confiscated (3. Hussite). After the death of the Czech king Wenceslaus in 1419 it was his younger brother Sigismund (later becoming also Holy Roman Emperor) that was to assume the Czech royal crown. And the only way to take possession of his kingdom was by force of arms. The twelve years of Husitte Wars (also called Bohemian Wars, 4. Hussite Wars) followed. The Hussite first campaigned defensively but soon assumed the offensive. Bohemians became united and they not only “repelled attacks of the army of Sigismund crusaders, but crossed the borders into neighboring countries” and they marched as far as to the Baltic Sea (4. Hussite Wars). They were using at that time novel ways of fighting, joining carts by chains into squares and circles around themselves and utilizing the surrounding terrain to their advantage at the same time.

Now probably at that time at the beginning of the 15th century during the conflict the Hussite war song "Ye Who Are Warriors of God" was created. It is said that it was sung with such intensity during the battle, “that it instilled fear throughout the enemy army, making it a weapon in itself” (5. Ktož jsú boží bojovníci.) This song became a hymn of Hussite. Usually it would be led by a Hussite priest, who would be carrying a ceremonial pyx” (5. Ktož jsú boží bojovníci).

Lyrics (English translation)

Origin and authorship of the song was given to the priest John Capek from Klatovy at anything between 1414 and 1420 (6. Jan Capek). Here is the English translation from old Czech:

Ye who are God's warriors and of his law,

Pray to God for help and have faith in Him;

That always with Him you will be victorious.

Christ is worth all your sacrifices, He will pay you back an hundredfold.

If you give up your life for Him you will receive eternal life.

Happy is he who believes this truth.

The Lord commandeth you not to fear bodily harm,

And commandeth you to even put your life down for the love of your brothers.

Therefore, archers, crossbowmen, halberdiers of knightly rank,

Scythemen and macebearers from all walks of life,

Remember always the Lord benevolent.

Do not fear your enemies, nor gaze upon their number,

Keep the Lord in your hearts; for Him fight on,

And before enemies you need not flee.

Since ages past Czechs have said and had proverbs which state,

That if the leader is good, so too is the journey.

Remember all of you the password which was given out.

Obey your captains and guard one another.

Stay sharp and everyone keep formation.

You beggars and wrongdoers, remember your soul!

For greed and theft don't lose your life.

And pay no heed to the spoils of war.

And with this happily cry out - saying, "At thee! Have at thee!"

Savour the weapon in your hands and shout, "God is our Lord!"

(5. Ktož jsú boží bojovníci.)

The lyrics describes the true path to Jesus Christ, the courage to lay down our lives for it or for the love of your fellow men, the courage to fight the enemy and not to flee.

The texture is monophonic; several voices sing the same melody together. There are no instruments, voices only. It has a strophic form. The last verse is sung louder and seems to be ornamented so it may be a heterophony, but still all verses are set to the same melody. I am not a musician so my guess is that the range is between “do” and “sol.” I would say it has disjunct motion, since it has some words that are broken into syllables sung with wide ranges. The meter has six beats. It seems to have a regular rhythm.

I think the song’s regular rhythm, 6-beat meter with unique disjunct range makes it ideal for marching and when sung with high intensity by a lot of voices it was definitely very noticeable and I would say “hammer” or “war” like.

Sources:

1. Song MP3,

2. Jan Hus,

3. Hussite,

4. Hussite Wars,

5. Ktož jsú boží bojovníci,

(in Czech language, more detailed version)

6. Jan Capek

7. Husitstvi,

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