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We\u2019ve been listening to some of the best national anthems from around the globe. Here are 14 that have particularly sparked our curiosity, some of which will be playing during the Football World Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> For sheer longevity alone, The Netherlands\u2019 \u2018Wilhelmhus<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 deserves a place on our list \u2013 in use since around 1570, it is the oldest national anthem in the world. The words are in the first person, as if spoken by William of Orange, who led the fight for Dutch independent from the Spanish in the 16th century.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n After the US\u2019s The Star-Spangled Banner<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, La Marseillaise<\/em><\/a><\/strong> is probably the most instantly recognised national anthem in the world. It is certainly one of the most rousing. Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792 to inspire French troops against Austria, it was initially called \u2018Chant de guerre pour l\u2019Arm\u00e9e du Rhin\u2019 (War song for the army of the Rhine) and marches in 4\/4 time with an unmistakable sense of purpose and confidence: \u2018Aux armes, citoyens; Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons!\u2019<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For many English listeners, this fine anthem has become ominously familiar as the musical prelude to yet another German-inflicted exit from a major football tournament. Until recently, at least. It is also the only national anthem to have been written by a composer of significant fame. That was Joseph Haydn<\/a><\/strong>, who composed it in 1797 as an anthem for the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. Germany, which didn\u2019t exist as a single country in Haydn\u2019s day, adopted it as its anthem in 1922. More flowingly lyrical than most national anthems, its tune was used by Haydn in his Op. 76 No. 3 String Quartet.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Some countries have national anthems. Italy boasts what appears to be a Verdi<\/a><\/strong> opera in miniature. After a sizeable orchestral introduction, we get the sort of melodious chorus that could quite easily have found its way into, say, the great composer\u2019s Il trovatore<\/em>.<\/p>\n As if this were not enough, we then move into a sturdy march, rounded off by a rousing \u2018l\u2019Italia chiam\u00f2!\u2019 (\u2018Italy has called!). However, despite being a leading figure in the Risorgimento movement for Italian unification, Verdi did not write this 1847 masterpiece. It was, in fact, the handiwork of Genovese composer Michele Novaro.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nBest national anthems<\/h2>\n
The Netherlands: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe<\/strong><\/h3>\n
France: La Marseillaise<\/h3>\n
Germany: Das Lied der Deutschen<\/a><\/h3>\n
Italy: Il Canto degli Italiani<\/a><\/h3>\n
Kenya: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu<\/h3>\n