La Bayamesa
Encyclopedia
El Himno de Bayamo is the national anthem
of Cuba
. It was first performed during the Battle of Bayamo in 1868. Perucho Figueredo
, who took part in the battle, wrote and composed the song. The melody, also called La Bayamesa, was composed by Figueredo in 1867. On October 20, 1868 the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spaniard 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, which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spaniards two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his anthem: Morir por la Patria es vivir. Officially adopted in 1902, the anthem was retained after the revolution
of 1959. The arrangement commonly used, without credit in Cuba, is believed to be that of José Norman, author of Cuban Pete http://www.jabw.demon.co.uk/jose1.htm. The Cuban composer Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, was the author of the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.
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 Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
and José Fornaris at the request of their friend Francisco Castillo Moreno, who is sometimes also credited with the lyrics. Many years later, in 1918, the composer and trova
dor Sindo Garay
, from Santiago de Cuba
, composed a song that he called Mujer Bayamesa; popular usage shortened the title to La Bayamesa.
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It was first performed during the Battle of Bayamo in 1868. Perucho Figueredo
Perucho Figueredo
Pedro Felipe Figueredo, mostly known as Perucho was a Cuban poet, musician, and freedom fighter of the 19th century...
, who took part in the battle, wrote and composed the song. The melody, also called La Bayamesa, was composed by Figueredo in 1867. On October 20, 1868 the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spaniard 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, which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spaniards two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his anthem: Morir por la Patria es vivir. Officially adopted in 1902, the anthem was retained after the revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
of 1959. The arrangement commonly used, without credit in Cuba, is believed to be that of José Norman, author of Cuban Pete http://www.jabw.demon.co.uk/jose1.htm. The Cuban composer Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, was the author of the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.
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 Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo was a Cuban planter who freed his slaves and made the declaration of Cuban independence in 1868 which started the Ten Years' War...
and José Fornaris at the request of their friend Francisco Castillo Moreno, who is sometimes also credited with the lyrics. Many years later, in 1918, the composer and trova
Trova
Trova is one of the great roots of the Cuban music tree. In the 19th century a group of itinerant musicians known as trovadores moved around Oriente, especially Santiago de Cuba, earning their living by singing and playing the guitar...
dor Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay was born Antonio Gumersindo Garay Garcia . He was the first, the smallest, and perhaps the longest-lived, of the trova artists taught by Pepe Sánchez. Garay was one of the four greats of the trova. Sindo Garay was Spanish & Arawkan descendant...
, from Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, composed a song that he called Mujer Bayamesa; popular usage shortened the title to La Bayamesa.
Lyrics
Originally the song had six stanzas. The last four stanzas were excluded in 1902. First, because it hurt the pride of the Spanish. Furthermore, it was well seen in the lyrics of one nation to another is not respected. Another important aspect is that it was too long compared to most of the hymns.| Spanish lyrics | Translation |
|---|---|
| First stanza | |
¡Al combate, corred, Bayameses!, Que la patria os contempla orgullosa; No temáis una muerte gloriosa, Que morir por la patria es vivir. |
Hasten to battle, men of Bayamo! The motherland looks proudly to you; Do not fear a glorious death, Because to die for the fatherland is to live. |
| Second stanza | |
En cadenas vivir es vivir En afrenta y oprobio sumido, Del clarín escuchad el sonido; ¡A las armas, valientes, corred! |
To live in chains is to live In dishonour and ignominy, Hear the clarion's call; Hasten, brave ones, to battle! |
| Third stanza (excluded) | |
No temáis; los feroces íberos son cobardes cual todo tirano no resisten al bravo cubano; para siempre su imperio cayó. |
Fear not the fierce Iberian which all are cowardly tyrant not resist the brave Cuban forever the empire fell. |
| Fourth stanza (excluded) | |
¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió, su poder y su orgullo ¿do es ido? ¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido ¡¡a las armas!!, valientes, corred! |
Free Cuba! Spain already died, their power and pride is gone do? Hear the sound of the bugle To arms!, Brave, run! |
| Fifth stanza (excluded) | |
Contemplad nuestras huestes triunfantes contempladlos a ellos caídos, por cobardes huyen vencidos: por valientes, supimos triunfar! |
Behold our hosts triumphant behold it to them fallen overcome by fleeing cowards: by brave, we found success! |
| Sixth stanza (excluded) | |
¡Cuba libre! podemos gritar del cañón al terrible estampido. ¡Del clarín escuchad el sonido, ¡¡a las armas!!, valientes, corred! |
Free Cuba! We shout the terrible roar of the cannon. Hear the sound of the trumpet, To arms!, Brave, run! |
External links
- Cuban National Anthem Website Cuban National Anthem interpreted by Cuban artists with music and voice.
- http://www.nacion.cult.cu/en/musica.htm Cuban site with different Mp3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
files - Las Bayamesas Article in Spanish on the three songs named La Bayamesa
- http://www.nacion.cult.cu/en/sobrehimno.htm