Royal march

Royal March, officially Spanish Royal March, are the traditional denominations, together with Grenade March —or formerly, Grenade March—, which receives the national anthem of Spain.

Although King Carlos III declared it a "March of Honor" on September 3, 1770, it was popular custom that made it de facto a national anthem, before it was declared so legally. The name "Royal March" was an expression popularly coined because it was used to be performed at public events attended by the king or queen.

The Marcha Real has been the anthem of Spain since the 18th century, with the exception of the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823) and the Second Republic (1931-1939), in which periods it was adopted the Hymn of Irrigation. Its official status was restored during the civil war in the insurgent zone by decree of February 27, 1937, ratified in the Official State Gazette once the war ended, on July 17, 1942. A more precise regulation was made in Royal Decree 1560/1997, of October 10, 1997, the year of the full acquisition of the copyright of the harmonization carried out by Bartolomé Pérez Casas, and revised by Francisco Grau, band director of the Royal Guard, who freely gave up their rights.

History

The Royal March is one of the oldest national anthems in Europe: its first mention appears in 1761 in the Book of the Ordinance of the Sounds of Fifes and Drums that are played again in the Infantry, composed by Don Manuel de Espinosa. 1761 by Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros. His score is written in this document and is entitled Grenade March or Grenade March . According to this document, Manuel de Espinosa is its composer.

There is a false belief that the author of the Royal March was Frederick II of Prussia, a great fan of music. This belief began in 1861 when it was first published in La España militar. In 1864, Colonel Antonio Vallecillo published the story in the newspaper El Espíritu Público, popularizing the supposed Prussian origin of the Royal March. According to Vallecillo, the anthem was a gift from Federico II to the military man Juan Martín Álvarez de Sotomayor who was at the Prussian court, by order of Carlos III, to learn the military tactics developed by the army of Federico II. In 1868 the story was published in Los Sucesos, changing the recipient of the gift to Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda. The myth was thus collected in various publications from 1884 and 1903, until it was included in 1908 in the Espasa Encyclopedia.

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the March of Grenadiers a «March of Honor», formalizing the custom of interpreting it in public and solemn acts only when the king appeared. It is during the reign of Elizabeth II when it becomes the official anthem.

In 1857 Mily Balakirev, a member of the Los Cinco group, composed an overture on a Spanish march (Overture for orchestra on the theme of a Spanish march, op.6), specifically on the theme of the March of the Grenadiers. The work is dedicated to Ludmila Iwanowna Schestakowa and there is a version for piano with 4 hands arranged by Sergei Lyapunov.

After the Revolution of 1868, General Prim called a national contest to create an official anthem, remaining deserted. Given the uncertainty, the jury was advised to continue considering the March of Grenadiers as such. In the time of Alfonso XIII it was established by a Royal Circular Order (27 August 1908) that the harmonization of the march carried out by Bartolomé Pérez Casas, Senior Musician of the Royal Corps of Alabarderos Guards, should be interpreted. There is also a version harmonized and instrumented by the famous Spanish composer Germán Álvarez Beigbeder, who curiously was a harmony student of Pérez Casas in the early 1910s.

During the Second Republic, between 1931 and 1936, the Hymn of Irrigation was officially the Hymn of the Republic, despite not appearing in any of the articles of its constitution or the Bulletins.^{[citation needed]} In 1931, shortly after its proclamation, a great controversy was organized about its validity as the National Anthem in which numerous politicians, intellectuals and musicians took part: among others, an article by Pío Baroja against him, since he considered him too streetwise and inappropriate for the ideals of the new Republic.

The Royal March was recovered as the National Anthem in 1936 and has been the official one ever since. There were numerous versions, some longer than others until in 1997 the Government of Spain made it official by Royal Decree.

The current official symphonic version of the Royal March that replaces the one by Pérez Casas, belongs to maestro Francisco Grau and is the official one after the Royal Decree of October 10, 1997, when the Kingdom de España acquired the copyright of the Royal March, until then belonging to the heirs of Pérez Casas. According to that same Royal Decree 1560/1997, the anthem must have the key of B major and black speed of 76 beats per minute (♩=76), with an AABB scheme and a duration of 52 seconds.

Conjectures about its origin

Some historians highlight the similarities between the March and some military airs of the time of Emperor Charles I.

There are opinions that suggest that the origin of the official anthem could be in the tušiya or instrumental overture of the Dary movement of the Nuba al-Istihlál by the Saraqust Arab philosopher and musician Ibn Bayyah (Avempace) from the late XI or early XII. After casually discovering the resemblance between a composition by the Andalusian sage, performed by Omar Metiou and Eduardo Paniagua, and the Spanish anthem, the Andalusian musician Chapi Pineda confirmed the similarities. These similarities are completely undeniable, but the scientific reality is that there is no document that includes music by Ibn Bayyah and it cannot be affirmed for certain that he was the author of this Nuba. The Andalusian tradition of Morocco collects this melody by oral transmission in the aforementioned tušiya, for which reason it is completely risky to date its origin in the 11th and 12th centuries.^{[quote required]}

Score

This is an unofficial version beginning in C major and ending in F major, with the pattern AABBaabb, where "a" and "b" are A and B transposed a fifth down, respectively:

• Piano Score of the Royal March of Spain

The official version published together with BOE 244/1997:

• Scores of the Royal March of Spain

Usage

The national anthem of Spain or Royal March is used in different versions depending on the type of event, place or authority that presides over the event. According to the Royal Decree of the BOE 1560/1997 that we have seen previously, there are two versions: -Long or complete version: 52 seconds. It consists of the complete interpretation of the hymn. It is interpreted to hoist the Flag of Spain, when the Spanish flag enters or leaves military formation, in solemn acts, when the act or event is presided over by the king or queen and in the celebrations of sporting events in which it is represented. to Spain. -Short or abbreviated version: 30 seconds. It consists of the interpretation of the two "2 central parts" of the National Anthem. It is interpreted to honor the high authorities of the State other than the kings. The Princess of Asturias, the infants of Spain, the President of the Government and ministers, secretaries and undersecretaries of State, general directors, chiefs of staff of the Armies and the Navy, presidents of the communities are entitled to honors with a short version of the National Anthem. autonomous, etc.

Lyrics of the Spanish anthem

The Royal March does not have official lyrics, making it one of only three national anthems in the world today in that situation, along with those of San Marino and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, several lyrics have been written to be used unofficially in conjunction with the melody. The oldest verses date back to the year 1843, composed by the playwright of Argentine origin Ventura de la Vega:

Come Spanish

To the cry come.

God save the Queen,

God save the country.

Version with lyrics by Eduardo Marquina (1927)

This letter was written by Eduardo Marquina on the occasion of the silver wedding anniversary on the throne of Alfonso XIII. It is reproduced here as it was published in the ABC newspaper on May 17, 1927, although it may include some errors; for example, it does not seem easy that, as in the third stanza, two verses (5th and 8th) end with the same word ("fe"). Similarly, in various audios it is noted that the last word in the first stanza, verse 3, is "color" and not "banner".

The Spanish flag (Chorus)

Glory, glory, crown of the homeland,

sovereign light

That's gold in your pendant!

Life, Life, Future of the Homeland,

that in your reds is

Open heart...!

Purple and gold: immortal flag

In your colors together, flesh and soul are!

Purple and gold: want and achieve:

You are, Flag, the sign of humankind!

Spain leads (Solo)

Pide, Spain!

wherever you want;

That honoring him is our law!

Manda, Spain, and united we will fight,

because you live,

without truce people and king!

A glorious banner you give us;

Nobody, living, Spain, will rip it off!

So, one day, he can cover us,

Give us, Spain, the joy of dying for you!

Long live Spain!... (Chorus)

Long live Spain! From the cry of the Homeland,

the triumphal explosion

He opened his way to the sun;

Long live Spain! twenty villages repeat

and speaking give faith

of the Spanish spirit...

Mark plow, hammer and clay

His noble rhythm at the cry of the Father faith!

Guide your mind to the end,

the "Viva España" attends all Spain standing.

Carlist version

Viva Spain,

glory of traditions,

with the law alone

that can thrive.

Viva Spain,

who is the mother of Nations,

with God, Homeland, King

He knew what to do.

War on perjury

traitor and mason,

with his breath impure

plunge the nation.

It's his flag.

the history of his glory;

For she will

his life the Spanish

True faith

that in red of love

aprising breeze

Lightning of sunshine.

Version with lyrics by José María Pemán

This letter is the best known, it was made by the poet from Cádiz in 1928 commissioned by Miguel Primo de Rivera, and not during the Civil War, as is frequently stated.

Long live Spain!

Lift up the front

children of the Spanish people

that resurfaces.

Glory to the Homeland

that he knew how to follow

over the blue sea

the sun walk.

Triunfa, Spain!

The Junks and the Wheels

sing to the compass

of the hymn of faith.

Together with them

Let's sing standing

the new and strong life

work and peace.

After the Spanish civil war, José María Pemán decided to change the second verse («raise your forehead») for the well-known «raise your arms», in addition to also changing («Los yunques y las ruedas») for «Los yokes and arrows.

Version with lyrics by Juaristi, De Cuenca, Linares and Fonte (1997)

The writers and poets Jon Juaristi, Luis Alberto de Cuenca, Abelardo Linares and Ramiro Fonte composed lyrics for the Royal March after the then Prime Minister, José María Aznar, told them his desire to put lyrics to the Spanish anthem. The choice of these authors was due not only to their belonging to the literary world, but also to the fact that there was supposedly enough ideological and geographical plurality among them that brought them closer to the reality of Spanish society. The lyrics were presented to the Government but the project was definitively shelved due to the political tension of the moment, the necessary consensus being unfeasible for such a delicate subject.

Canta, Spain,

and the wind of the peoples

Throw your song

Time to remember.

What flax wings

They opened your way

from one trust to the other

of the immense sea.

My country

that you keep the joy

of old age

flourish in your inheritance.

To the sun of Europe,

lift the cup,

the sacred tree

Freedom.

As Juaristi himself explains, the authors decided that «the text should be brief, easy to memorize and translate, with a simple vocabulary, without warlike accents and with three basic ideas: the universal projection of Spain, their European destiny and the exaltation of Liberty. (...) It seemed to us that, in addition to meeting the aforementioned requirements, [the letter] abounded, within its brevity, in references to the Hispanic poetic tradition of all time».

Version selected by the Spanish Olympic Committee (2007)

In June 2007, the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, proposed the composition of a new lyrics that could be interpreted on those occasions where the victory of Spanish athletes entailed the representation of the official anthem during the delivery of trophies. This new letter is one of the many unofficial versions that currently exist. Numerous proposals from anonymous Spaniards were sent so that a jury created for this purpose could choose one.

The chosen letter, the work of Paulino Cubero, was leaked to the press on January 11, 2008, days before its official presentation, which should have taken place on January 21. Said letter aroused rejection and controversy among a large part of society and the political class. Once presented, the Spanish Olympic Committee planned to collect the signatures (at least half a million) that would allow it to present a popular legislative initiative before Congress to make it This is the one that definitively accepted it as the lyrics of the official anthem. The COE, however, decided to cancel the official presentation and withdraw the proposal due to "the controversy and rejection generated", without specifying whether it will resubmit another one or renounce it.

Long live Spain!

Let's sing together

with a different voice

and one heart

Long live Spain!

from the green valleys

to the immense sea,

an hymn of brotherhood

Love the homeland

for he can embrace,

under his blue sky,

peoples in freedom

Glory to the children

to History

justice and greatness

democracy and peace.

Version by Joaquín Sabina (2012)

On November 5, 2012, a version of the anthem written in 2007 by Joaquín Sabina was presented by the political party Ciudadanos-Partido de la Ciudadanía.

Citizens,

war for peace

and the goddess reason

hand in the heart.

Citizens,

nor subjects nor masters

and resignation

No cannon.

Breadmas

with faith and dignity

There's nothing more sacred

that freedom.

Citizens,

neither heroes nor villains,

children of yesterday,

There's so much to do.

Citizens,

so fiercely human,

so countrymen

Babel's brother.

High mountain

with sea port

sun key Spain

dare to dream.

Version by Marta Sánchez (2018)

On February 17, 2018, the singer Marta Sánchez, in a concert at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, performed a version of the hymn with the following lyrics:

I return home, to my beloved land,

the one who saw a heart born here.

Today I sing to you, to tell you how much

pride is on me, that's why I resisted.

I grow my love every time I leave,

But don't forget that without you I can't live.

Red, yellow, bright colors

in my heart and I do not ask forgiveness.

Great Spain, I thank God

to be born here, honor you to the end.

As your daughter I'll take that honor,

fill every corner with your sunshine.

And if one day I can't come back,

Save me a place to rest at last.

Other versions

Version by an unidentified author that appeared in the Álvarez Encyclopedia

The Álvarez Encyclopedia was one of the most widely distributed textbooks in the Spanish postwar period, starting in the 1950s. The following letter appeared in it:

Viva Spain

my country declared

mother without equal

compendium of honor.

Viva Spain

of noble life

regio pedestal

of Christ the Redeemer.

You were from glories

pensil

Today,

a youthful impulse

Twenty nations

crown your temple

Up Spain!

Undefeated race is your bra.

Version by Carlos Cava de Llano (1981)

This version was written by the writer Carlos Cava de Llano and its recording appears on the cassette "El Generalísimo"

Glory to Spain! Raise hearts

to the blue sky of the immortal homeland.

Vince, Spain, triumph in your companies

with courage and faith that never missed you.

With the flag you can carry

cravings of love and peace for the land and the sea.

Follow your History that the Spanish people

He was able to write following the walk of the sun.