The National Anthem of Guatemala () was an initiative of the government of General José María Reina Barrios. Its music was composed by and its original lyrics written by Cuban poet and diplomat José Joaquín Palma, in the context of the cultural and industrial event Exposición Centroamericana of 1897.
The anthem was particularly warmongering and reflected the Cuban War of Independence more than the independence of Central America. Due to this, by a 1934 order of President Jorge Ubico some changes to the lyrics were made by pedagogue José María Bonilla Ruano.
The lyrics and score were printed for the first time in the culture magazine La Ilustración Guatemalteca, where the original author of the lyrics appeared as "Anonymous". It was not until 1910, shortly before his death, that Palma confessed being the author.
History
Origins
In 1879, the El Porvenir Literary Society unsuccessfully attempted to create a national anthem for Guatemala. In 1887, the president of Guatemala, General Manuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián, called for a competition to choose music that would complement the lyrics of the "" written by poet Ramón P. Molina. Distinguished composers took part in this competition, and the triumph was awarded to music presented by .
Competition organized by Reina Barrios
thumbnail|200px|left|[[Colón Theatre (Guatemala)|Colón Theatre after its remodelling in 1892. The National Anthem of Guatemala was premiered here on 14 March 1897.]]
In 1896, the government of General José María Reina Barrios called for a new competition, "considering that Guatemala lacks a National Anthem, since the one known to this day by that name not only suffers from notable defects, but also has not been officially declared as such; and that it is convenient to provide the country with an anthem that, through its lyrics and music, responds to the lofty purposes for which all educated people lend this kind of composition." In this new competition, Rafael Álvarez Ovalle's work was chosen again, this time musicalising a poem written under the pseudonym "Anonymous".
The victory granted again to the teacher Álvarez Ovalle cost him the most bitter moments of his existence, as 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 figures and teachers of musical art, listened again to all the compositions that competed in the competition, and Álvarez Ovalle's was unanimously selected again.
With respect to the lyrics, the qualifying jury determined the following: The premiere of the National Anthem took place in the literary lyrical act held at the Colón Theatre on the night of Sunday, 14 March 1897, as one of the main points of the programme of celebrations of the Exposición Centroamericana, with Álvarez Ovalle being decorated with a medal of gold and diploma of honor. The government of Manuel Estrada Cabrera awarded both him and Rafael Álvarez Ovalle with gold laurel wreaths at the that year.
!English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem></poem>
|<poem>I
Merry Guatemala! That your altars
Never be profaned by the tormentor,
Nor there be slaves who lick the yoke
Nor tyrants who spit on your face.
If tomorrow your sacred ground
Is threatened by foreign invasion
Free to the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call.
Free to the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it will call;
That your people with fierce spirit
Rather dead than slave become.
II
From your old and hard chains
You forged with an angry hand
The plough that fertilizes the soil,
And the sword that saves honor.
Our fathers fought one day
Burning with patriotic fervor,
And managed without a bloody clash
To place you on a throne of love.
And managed without a bloody clash
To place you on a throne of love,
Which from fatherland in energetic focus
Gave life to the redemptive ideal.
III
A piece of heaven your ensign is
In which a cloud enlightens its alabaster
And… woe to him who with blind madness
Its colors intends to stain!
Because your brave and proud children,
Who venerate peace as a prized gift,
Never dodge the rough fight
If they defend their land and their home.
Never dodge the rough fight
If they defend their land and their home,
That honor is their guiding cry
And the altar of the fatherland their altar.
IV
Leaning on the proud alp
From two seas to the sonorous noise
Under the wing of scarlet and gold
You are dazzled by the beautiful quetzal.
Indian bird that lives in your shield,
Palladium that protects your land
May it take its flight
Higher than the condor and the golden eagle!
May it take its flight
Higher than the condor and the golden eagle,
And on its wings lift up to the sky,
Guatemala, your immortal name!
</poem>
|}
Certifications
The National Anthem of Guatemala has been considered by Carlos Labin, a member of the Americanist Society of Paris and the Musicology Society of France, as the "most original" of all the anthems of the American continent.
Notes
References
External links
- National anthem of Guatemala - Orchestra, choir, and lyrics in YouTube.
- Himno Nacional de Guatemala - Audio of the national anthem of Guatemala, with information and lyrics