IN 1841 Alberich Zwyssig, a Swiss monk, played a new solemn tune to a handful of residents in the Swiss city of Zug. It proved a hit. As his hymn gained popularity in several of Switzerland's member states, calls grew to declare it the country’s national anthem. A century passed before it was at last officially recognised as such: it was declared the Swiss Psalm in 1981. But on January 1st 2014 the Swiss will open a competition to all nationals and residents to write a new patriotic paean. Why does Switzerland want to change its anthem?
