La Bayamesa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
El Himno de Bayamo
English: The Bayamo Anthem
1909
Relinquished1906
Audio sample
National anthem of Cuba (instrumental)

"El Himno de Bayamo" (English: "The Bayamo Anthem", lit.'The Hymn of Bayamo"') is the national anthem of Cuba. It was first performed in 1868, during the Battle of Bayamo [es]. Perucho Figueredo, who took part in the battle, wrote and composed the song. The melody, also called "La Bayamesa" (English: "The Bayamo Song"), was composed by Figueredo in 1867.

Overview

On October 20, 1868, the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spanish colonial authorities in Bayamo, the jubilant people surrounded Figueredo and asked him to write an anthem with the melody they were humming. Right on the saddle of his horse, Figueredo wrote the lyrics of the anthem,[1] which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spanish two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his song: "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (English: "To die for one's country is to live").[2]

Officially adopted by Cuba as its national anthem in 1902, upon the foundation of the

Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer contributed the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.[3]

In addition to the "Himno de Bayamo", there are two other well-known Cuban songs called "La Bayamesa". The first Bayamesa was composed in 1851 by

mambí" version of "La Bayamesa" became popular. It has the same melody but different lyrics.[5] Many years later, in 1918, the composer and trovador Sindo Garay, from Santiago de Cuba, composed a song that he called "Mujer Bayamesa"; popular usage shortened the title to "La Bayamesa".[6]

Lyrics

Originally, the song had three stanzas. The last two stanzas were excluded when the anthem was officially adopted in 1902, because the lyrics were seen to be excessively anti-Spanish[7] and too long compared with the other stanzas.

Spanish original[8][9] English translation

I
¡Al combate, corred, bayameses!,
Que la patria os contempla orgullosa;
No temáis una muerte gloriosa,
Que morir por la patria es vivir.
(𝄆) En cadenas vivir es vivir
En afrenta y oprobio sumido.
Del clarín escuchad el sonido:
¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)

II (excluido)
No temáis los feroces íberos,
Son cobardes cual todo tirano.
No resisten al bravo cubano;
Para siempre su imperio cayó.
(𝄆) ¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió,
Su poder y su orgullo ¿do es ido?
¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido:
¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)

III (excluido)
Contemplad nuestras huestes triunfantes,
Contempladlos a ellos caídos.
Por cobardes huyeron vencidos;
¡Por valientes, sabemos triunfar!
(𝄆) ¡Cuba libre! podemos gritar
Del cañón al terrible estampido.
¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido:
¡A las armas, valientes, corred! (𝄇)

I
To combat, run, people of Bayamo!
Because the Fatherland contemplates you proudly;
Do not fear a glorious death,
Because dying for the Fatherland is living.
(𝄆) Living in chains is living
Plunged in affront and opprobrium.
Hear the sound of the bugle:
To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)

II (excluded)
Fear not the fierce Iberians,
They are cowards like every tyrant.
They cannot withstand the brave Cubans;
Their empire has forever fallen.
(𝄆) Free Cuba! Spain has already died,
Its power and pride, where did it go?
Hear the sound of the bugle:
To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)

III (excluded)
Behold our troops triumphant,
And behold them fallen.
Because they were cowards, they flee defeated;
Because we were brave, we knew how to triumph.
(𝄆) Free Cuba! we can shout
From the cannon's terrible boom.
Hear the sound of the bugle,
To arms, brave ones, run! (𝄇)

References

  1. ^ Cuba '67: Image of a Country. Book Institute. 1967. p. 60.
  2. .
  3. ^ "Symbols of the cuban nation". www.nacion.cult.cu. Archived from the original on 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  4. .
  5. .
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  7. .
  8. ^ "Law No. 128" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.cu. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  9. .

External links