"Els Segadors" (, ; "The Reapers") is the official national anthem of Catalonia, nationality and autonomous community of Spain.
History
thumb|left|The [[Reapers' War "Corpus de Sang" (1640). Painted in 1910]]
The original song dates in the oral tradition to 1640, based on the events of June 1640 known as Corpus de Sang ("Corpus of Blood") during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Spain, England, France and Austria, the event that started the Reapers' War or , also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution, where Catalans fought against the Count-Duke of Olivares, the chief minister of King Philip IV of Spain, and eventually led to an open war and the establishment of a Catalan Republic under French protection.
The song describes the events, an uprising of peasants due to the large and burdensome presence of the Spanish Royal army in the Principality of Catalonia, as they were required to lodge and provision the troops, thus leading to a large tension and discomfort and the outbreak of episodes such as religious sacrileges, destruction of personal properties, and rape of women by the soldiers. The second part of the song tells the arrival of the rebel reapers in Barcelona, who kill various guards, the royal officers and the viceroy of Catalonia, Dalmau de Queralt, ending with the exhortation to Catalans to take the arms, as they are at war.
In the 19th century, the text was compiled in the Romancillero Catalán, a book of folk traditions written by Manuel Milà i Fontanals. The music was standardized by Francesc Alió in 1892.
Lyrics
Modern lyrics
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|<poem>I
Catalonia triumphant
Shall again be rich and abundant.
Drive away these folks
Who are so proud and arrogant.
Strike with your sickle!
Strike with your sickle, defenders of the land!
Strike with your sickle!
II
Now is the time, reapers,
Now is the time to stand wise.
Let us sharpen well our means,
For when another June comes.
III
May the enemy tremble
Upon seeing our symbol.
Just as we cut the wheat's golden ears,
When time calls, we sever the chains.
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Original lyrics: pre-1899
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|<poem>I
Ah, happy Catalonia
who has seen you rich and plentiful!
Now the king our lord
has declared war on us.
II
The great count of Olivar
is always pestering his ear:
"Now is the time, our king.
now is the time to make war."
III
Against the Catalans
see what they have done already:
villages and places followed
up to the place of Riudarenes,
IV
they have burned a church
that was called Santa Coloma,
they are burning white habits and chasubles
the chalices and the patens.
V
And the Blessed Sacrament
praise be to you forever.
They killed a priest
while Mass was being held.
VI
They killed a knight
at the door of the church,
Don Lluís de Furrià
and the angels are making him a big feast.
VII
The bread that was not white
they said was too black,
they gave it to the horses
only to ravage the earth.
VIII
The wine that was not good
they turned on the taps,
they threw it in the streets
only to irrigate the land.
IX
In the presence of their parents
they dishonoured the maidens.
They gave part to the viceroy
of the harm that those soldiers were doing:
X
"I gave them a license
many more can be taken.”
XI
In view of all this
the earth has shaken.
They entered Barcelona
a thousand strangers,
XII
they come in as reapers
as we were in harvest time.
Of three guards there
the first has already died.
XIII
The viceroy was killed
at the entrance to the galley.
They killed the deputies
and the judges of the Court.
XIV
They went to prison
they are releasing the prisoners.
The bishop blessed them
with the right and left hand:
XV
"Where is your captain,
where is your flag?"
They took out the good Jesus
all covered with a black veil:
XVI
"Here is our captain
here is our flag.
To arms, Catalans,
they have declared war on you."</poem>
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Recordings and variations
An arrangement of "Els Segadors" appears on "Ballad of the Fallen" by Charlie Haden (1983).
Contemporary Catalan composer Jordi Savall made a version of the folk song, using the original narrative (which dates back to the 17th century) combined with the modern lyrics and refrain, which were added later. The song has also been recorded and interpreted by major artists, included on albums such as Traditional Catalan Songs (Victoria de los Ángeles).
In October 2017, in the aftermath of the Catalan independence referendum, the American band A Sound of Thunder released a heavy metal variation of the anthem, using a mix of English and Catalan lyrics.
See also
- Catalan nationalism
- Anthems of the autonomous communities of Spain
- Gernikako Arbola (anthem)
Notes
References
External links
- Generalitat of Catalonia: National symbols