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National anthem of Wallonia: The “Chant du Départ“ (French for “Song of the Departure“) is a revolutionary and war song written by Étienne Nicolas Méhul (music) and Marie-Joseph Chénier (words) in 1794. It was the official anthem of the First Empire. It is also the regional anthem of French Guiana. The song was nicknamed “the brother of the Marseillaise“ by Republican soldiers. It was presented to Maximilien Robespierre, who called it “magnificent and republican poetry way beyond anything ever made by the Girondin Chénier.“ The song was first performed by the orchestra and choirs of the Music academy on 14 July 1794. Its original title was Anthem to Liberty; it was changed to its present title by Robespierre. It is a musical tableau: each of the seven stanzas is sung by a different character or group of characters. Similarities in melody to the later, less complex Internationale are unmistakable. UMF community discord:
