Jean Antoine Zinnen

[2] Zinnen was born in Neuerburg, in the Prussian Rhineland, close to the border with Luxembourg.

[2] In 1863, he was appointed the director of the newly founded Allgemeiner Luxemburger Musikverein (ALM) which, in 1947, was renamed Union Grand-Duc Adolphe, the national umbrella organisation for music societies, bands, choirs and orchestras.

Michel Lentz, the national poet who was a member of the ALM's central committee, had written the words, wishing to convey a powerful feeling of patriotism.

Jean-Antoine Zinnen died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the age of 71, and was buried in Limpertsberg, Luxembourg City.

Two years after his death, a monument was constructed at the churchyard in which he is buried, paid for by private donations.