Guatemalan National Anthem

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The lyrics of the National Anthem of Guatemala are original by the Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma, and the music was composed by the master composer Rafael Álvarez Ovalle in 1897, on the occasion of the Central American Exposition of the government of General José María Reina Barrios.

The lyrics and the score were first printed in the cultural magazine La Ilustración Guatemalteca, where the author of the lyrics appeared as Anonymous. It was not until 1910, when it was already published. at the end of his life, that the Cuban poet and diplomat José Joaquín Palma confessed that he was the author; the government of lawyer Manuel Estrada Cabrera awarded both him and Rafael Álvarez Ovalle with gold laurel wreaths at the Minervalias Festival of that year.

By order of President General Jorge Ubico, in 1934, some changes were made by the pedagogue José María Bonilla Ruano to the lyrics of the hymn since it was very warmongering and reflected more to the Cuban war of independence -in the that Palma had actively participated- than to the Independence of Central America.

History and Origins

Origins

In 1879, the “El Porvenir” Literary Society tried unsuccessfully to create a National Anthem for Guatemala. Until 1887, the president of Guatemala, General Manuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián, called a contest to choose the music that would complement the lyrics of the "National Anthem" written by the poet Ramón P. Molina. Distinguished composers took part in this contest, and the triumph was awarded to the music presented by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle.

Contest organized by Reina Barrios

See also: Liberal Reform and Central American Exhibition.

Teatro Colón after its remodeling in 1892. The National Anthem of Guatemala was released here.

In 1896, the government of General José María Reina Barrios called for a new contest, «Considering that there is a lack of a National Anthem in Guatemala, since the one known by that name to this day not only suffers from notable defects, but it has not been officially declared as such; and that it is convenient to provide the country with a hymn that, due to its lyrics and music, responds to the high purposes in which all educated people lend this kind of compositions". setting to music a poem covered by the pseudonym "Anonymous".

The victory once again awarded to maestro Álvarez Ovalle cost him the most bitter moments of his existence, since there was discontent among those who did not win, who even sent their complaint to the president. Reina Barrios, in the presence of the members of his cabinet, other personalities and teachers of musical art, listened again to all the compositions that competed in the contest, having been unanimously elected again, that of the teacher Rafael Álvarez Ovalle.

Regarding the lyrics, the qualifying jury determined the following:

Text of the report given by the jury qualifier of the literary contest, composed of F. Castañeda, J. Joaquín Palma and José Leonard.

«Guatemala, October 27, 1896. Minister of Public Instruction. Present.
In compliance with the honorable commission with which you served to favor us, in charge of the qualification of the "national hymns" presented to this secretariat, by virtue of the contest opened by the agreement of 24 July last, we have examined the twelve compositions that you had for such purpose to send us on the date 15 of the present. Encouraged by the best wishes, and with the aim of making the designation required by the above-mentioned agreement, we have met several times, and after long and detained examination, we have the honour to manifest to you that, in our opinion, the hymn that begins with the wordsGuatemala happy and take to the foot Anonymous between parentheses, it is the one that best responds to the conditions of the call and therefore deserves the prize offered. Thus we have the honour to issue the report that the secretariat of his worthy office asked us, writing with all consideration and appreciation, the Minister, very attentive and secure servants.

José Leonard, J. J. Palma, F. Castañeda».

As can be seen, the Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma was a member of the qualifying jury.

The premiere of the National Anthem took place in the literary lyrical act held at the Teatro Colón (Guatemala) on the night of Sunday, March 14, 1897, as one of the main points of the festivities program of the Central American Exposition, having been the teacher Rafael Álvarez Ovalle was awarded a gold medal and a diploma of honor.

Palma confesses to being the author

The author of the lyrics of the National Anthem of Guatemala remained in the deepest mystery until 1911, when it was discovered that its author was the Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma, since he revealed on his deathbed that he was the author of the lyrics of the hymn.

Sound score

Audio is automatically generated from the score, and serves as the piano backing track for the singing.

Sound score of the NATIONAL ANTHEM OF GUATEMALA

Letter

Original Lyrics of the Hymn (1897 - 1934)

National Anthem of Guatemala (1897-1934), Incomplete

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Poet and procer Cuban José Joaquín Palma, author of the original letter of the Anthem.

Guatemalan composer Rafael Álvarez Ovalle, author of the hymn's music. Photograph by The Guatemalan Illustration 1897.

The original lyrics of the Guatemalan Anthem written by the Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma were warmongering since Palma was inspired more by the political situation that his native Cuba was going through, than the one Guatemala lived through during its independence: while Central America After separating from the Spanish Empire peacefully, Cuba was waging a ferocious war against Spain at the time Palma wrote the Anthem. Because it does not reflect the Guatemalan reality, the letter was modified in 1934, according to the Government Decree of the government of General Jorge Ubico Castañeda of July 26, 1934.

Here are the lyrics, as written by José Joaquín Palma:

Make her happy! Not bloody ferocious the executioner, There are no cowards who lick the yoke No tyrants spitting your face. If tomorrow your sacred soil The profane foreign invasion Blood ink your beautiful flag To bit the bold will do. CORO Blood ink your beautiful flag To bit the bold will serve, May your people with soul die Before he died that slave will be. II Of your old, tough chains You melted with an iron hand The plow that the soil fecunds, And the sword that saves the honor. Our parents fought one day Surrounded by arduous path, You got ripped off from the bloody pot. And you were raised by a throne of love. CORO You got ripped off from the bloody pot. And you were raised by a throne of love. That from home to strong accent Kill the crime and sink the mistake.

It's your show of heaven Between clouds of sharp albura And woe to him that perjures with a hand Your colors dare to stain! May your courageous and elative children Come with joy in the rough fight The torrent of blood that humbles From steel to the vibrant collide. CORO The torrent of blood that humbles From steel to the vibrant collide, That's just the honor your presea And the altar of the homeland, its altar. IV Lying on the proud foot Two seas to sound noise Under the wing of grain and gold You love the beautiful quetzal. Indian bird living in your shield, Paladon that protects your soil I wish you'd clear your flight. More than the condor and the real eagle! CORO I wish you'd clear your flight. More than the condor and the royal eagle, And on their wings rise to heaven, Guatemala, your immortal name!

Source: The Guatemalan Illustration

Current lyrics of the Anthem (1934 to present)

Main article: José María Bonilla

Facsimile with the original letter of J.J. Palma with verses of the National Anthem, written in 1,897.
Guatemala National History Museum.

The lyrics of the National Anthem were modified by the Guatemalan poet and educator José María Bonilla Ruano, on instructions from the government of General Jorge Ubico.

After modifications made by Bonilla Ruano in 1934, the national anthem is sung with these lyrics:

Make her happy... never profane the executioner; and there are no slaves who lick the yoke No tyrants spitting your face. If tomorrow your sacred soil threatens foreign invasion, free to the wind your beautiful flag to defeat or die will call. Coro Free to the wind your beautiful flag to overcome or die will call; that your people with soul will before he died that slave will be. II Of your old, tough chains You forged with an unspoiled hand, the plow that the soil fecund and the sword that saves the honor. Our parents fought one day on burning path, and achieved without bloody shock place yourself on a throne of love. Coro And they managed without bloody shock place yourself on a throne of love, that of homeland in energetic accent They gave life to the redeeming ideal.

III It's your show of heaven in which a cloud is caught, And alas! His colors pretend to stain. For your courageous and elative children, to venerate peace as it stands, Never dodge the tough fight if they defend their land and home. Coro Never dodge the tough fight if they defend their land and home, that is only honor his soul idea and the altar of the homeland his altar. IV Lying in the proud foot, from two seas to sound noise, under the wing of grain and gold You love the beautiful Quetzal. Indian bird living in your shield, lever that protects your soil; I wish you'd clear your flight, more than the condor and the real eagle! Coro I wish you'd clear your flight, more than the condor and the real eagle! and on their wings rise to heaven, Guatemala, your immortal name.

Certifications

The National Anthem of Guatemala has been considered by Carlos Labin, a member of the Americanist Society of Paris and the Musicological Society of France, as the "most original" of all the anthems of the American continent.

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