page_title: Shumi Maritsa
section_title: History of the lyrics
hierarchical_section_title: Shumi Maritsa / History / History of the lyrics
caption_attribution_description: English: Nikola Zhivkov. Founded the the first kindergarten in Bulgaria. Assistant to Hristo Botev, secretary of Philip Totyuva. Author of the drama "Ilyo Voyvoda" (1877), the anthem "Shumi Maritza".
context_page_description: "Shumi Maritsa" was the Bulgarian national anthem from 1886 until 1947. The music was derived from the German folk song "Wenn die Soldaten durch die Stadt marschieren" that was very popular in Bulgaria in the mid-19th century. The original text was written by Nikola Zhivkov, a head teacher in Veles. The lyrics were edited many times, most notably in 1912 by the poet Ivan Vazov. The title refers to the Maritsa river. It literally translates to "Maritsa makes noise" but the connotation is closer to "Maritsa roars".
context_section_description: Nikola Zhivkov created the lyrics of the song when he was among the Bulgarian volunteers who participated in the Serbian-Turkish war that broke out in 1876. He created the song because of his admiration to the personality and charisma of General Mikhail Chernyayev, who commands the Bulgarian volunteers. The song is composed by the title of "Chernyayev March". The melody of the song is inspired by the musical poem "Sunshine".
  The song "Chernyayev March" was first published in 1877 in the newspaper "Sekydnevny Novinar" by S.P.Bobekov, and then in 1878 in the collection of songs "Gusla i pesni".
  The title of the song was later changed to "Shumi Maritsa", at the play "Ilyo Voyvoda". The song was published at the end of the play.
  The lyrics of the song underwent a major revision by poet Ivan Vazov in 1912. Covered by the patriotic enthusiasm after the first victories during the Balkan War, the folk poet wrote almost entirely new lyrics of the song, borrowing motifs from his own poem "Maritsa rushes bloodily" (which would be the first and second line of the song). He published it for the first time on December 4, 1912 with the following editorial note:
  For a long time, a necessary reference was made to the text of the historic Bulgarian march, written as it is known, by the late Nikola Zhivkov. His rhythm text, which does not always correspond to the music of a march, connects unlucky poems, and these flaws unpleasantly annoy the ear and taste of the singing of Shumi Maritza. With the ubiquitous admiration that today's warfare arouses on this march, its textual corrections have become imperative to have the world in the mood of its kind.
  — Ivan Vazov
  Another minor revision was done in 1914. The revision appeared in the poems collection "Under the Thunder of Victories." Because of the World War I, the revision gained small attention. This has led Ivan Vazov to republish the text in his poem "Songs for Macedonia 1913-1916" printed in 1916 with the following remark: 
  Unfortunately, today, it was a habit, perhaps our unpardonable tastelessness, Shumi Maritza is sung when it becomes necessary, most of the old stupid text, which we are ashamed of foreigners when they are translated. That's why, hoping to be remembered by everyone, I reprinted this revision of our anthem.
  — Ivan Vazov
  There are some other attempts to revise the text in the following years, but proved unsuccessful.
caption: Nikola Zhivkov
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