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Marcha Real

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La Marcha Real
English: The Royal March

National anthem of  Spain
LyricsNone
MusicUnknown
Adopted1770
Audio sample
Himno Nacional de España — Orquesta sinfónica

La Marcha Real ("The Royal March") is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no official lyrics, because each time the new King is on the throne the lyrics change according to the King's wish.

The origins of the anthem, one of the oldest in the world, are unknown. The melody was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española (The Spanish Infantry's Book of Military Bugle Calls), by Manuel de Espinosa. Here it is entitled [La Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("March of the Grenadiers"), though no composer's name is given.

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the [Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) to be the official "Honour March", thereby according it a place at public and ceremonial events. Because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the [Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as their national anthem and called it the [Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), or "Royal March".

Under the Second Spanish Republic (19311939), [El Himno de Riego] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) replaced [La Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored [La Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as the country's national anthem, under its old title of [La Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help).

Current version

File:Spanish National Anthem official CD release.jpg
Official anthem release album cover.

The current official version, as described in Royal Decree 1560/1997[1], is a sixteen-bar long phrase, divided in two sections, each one is made up of four repeated bars (AABB form). Tempo is set to ♩= 76 and key to B flat.

Depending on whom the anthem is performed to, there is a short version without the repetitions. The long one is kept for the King, while the short must be performed to Prime Minister, the Prince, or in sport.

Also, there are three official performances by a symphonic orchestra, a military band, and an organ, written by Francisco Grau Vegara and requested by the Government of Spain. All in all, they are six different official adaptations. They all were recorded by the Spanish National Orchestra and the Royal Band as an official recording and released in compact disc during a limited period of time[2].

Provided that the Marcha Real harmonization was written by Bartolomé Pérez Casas in early 1900s, and his copyright rights haven't yet expired, the Government bought them from Pérez Casas' inheritors in 1997 with 130,000,000 pesetas (~ 781,316) to avoid future legal affairs[3]. But, as long as the work rights expire, they belongs to Ministry of Culture, being necessary that collecting societies take them, which has led to criticism [4].

As a result, many different harmonization are performed to avoid paying. Nonetheless, the 1997 Francisco Grau's revision rights were transfered for free to the Government, although they are not as well in public domain[5].

Lyrics

Though the [Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) has no lyrics, words have been written and used for it in the past. One version was used during Alfonso XIII's reign and another during General Franco's dictatorship; however, none of them was ever made official. The national anthem has been played without words since 1978, when the lyrics that had been approved by right-wing dictator Francisco Franco were abandoned.[6]

Alfonso XIII lyrics

Lyrics by Eduardo Marquina (1879-1946)

Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria,
soberana luz
que es oro en tu Pendón.

Vida, vida, futuro de la Patria,
que en tus ojos es
abierto corazón.

Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal;
en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están.

Púrpura y oro: querer y lograr;
Tú eres, bandera, el signo del humano afán.

Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria,
soberana luz
que es oro en tu Pendón.

Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal;
en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están.

English language version

Glory, glory, crown of the Fatherland
sovereign light
which in your standard is gold.

Life, life, future of the Fatherland,
in your eyes it is
an open heart

Purple and gold: immortal flag;
in your colors, together, flesh and soul are.

Purple and gold: to want and to achieve;
You are, flag, the sign of human effort.

Glory, glory, crown of the Fatherland
sovereign light
which in your standard is gold.

Purple and gold: immortal flag;
in your colors, together, flesh and soul are.

Franco lyrics

Lyrics by José María Pemán (1897-1981) at the request of Miguel Primo de Rivera

Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.

Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.

¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.

Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie
la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz.

Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie
la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz.

Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.

Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.

Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

English language version


Long live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are rising again.

Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels
sing to the rhythm
of the hymn of the faith.

Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels
sing to the rhythm
of the hymn of the faith.

Together with them let's stand and sing
the new powerful life of labour and peace.

Together with them let's stand and sing
the new powerful life of labour and peace.

Long live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are arising again.

Long Live Spain, raise your arms, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are arising again.

Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

Lyric competition

After witnessing a rousing rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at Anfield in 2007, the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, said he felt inspired to seek lyrics to La Marcha Real ahead of Madrid's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.[7][8] Politicians, including the PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, steered clear of the issue in order not to alienate some Basques, Catalans, or Galicians who tend to identify with their own regions rather than with the Spanish state.[9] A number of the Autonomous communities of Spain have their own anthems. After widespread public criticism of the proposed lyrics - due to its supposed nationalist tone, the Spanish Olympic Committee withdrew them in January 2008, after just 5 days.[10]

2008 proposal:



¡Viva España!
Cantemos todos juntos
con distinta voz
y un solo corazón

¡Viva España!
desde los verdes valles
al inmenso mar,
un himno de hermandad

Ama a la patria
pues sabe abrazar,
bajo su cielo azul,
pueblos en libertad

Gloria a los hijos
que a la Historia dan
justicia y grandeza
democracia y paz.

English language version

Long live Spain!
Let's all sing together,
with different voices,
and only one heart.

Long live Spain!
From the green valleys,
to the immense sea,
a hymn of brotherhood.

Love the Fatherland,
which knows how to embrace,
below the blue sky,
peoples in freedom.

Glory to the sons,
who to history give,
justice and greatness,
democracy and peace.

References

  1. ^ Boletín Oficial del Estado Royal Decree 1560/1997.
  2. ^ Official anthem release album cover.
  3. ^ Boletín Oficial del Estado Royal Decretee 1543/1997.
  4. ^ "El himno da aún mucho dinero". Crónica. #604. May 27 2007.
    "Cuando el himno es de un particular". Periodista Digital. May 27 2007.
  5. ^ Boletín Oficial del Estado Royal Decretee 2027/1998.
  6. ^ Divisive national anthem lyrics ditched Wed Jan 16, 2008
  7. ^ Liverpool fans help inspire Spain to write words to anthem Reuters, 5 June 2007
  8. ^ Spain to add lyrics to wordless national anthem MSNBC, 26 June 2007
  9. ^ "Lost for Words", The Economist, Vol 384 Number 8539.
  10. ^ "Controversy over lyrics stalls Placido Domingo's dream of singing Spanish anthem". International Herald Tribune. 16 January 2008. Retrieved on 17 January 2008.

Sheet music