La Bayamesa
| English: The Bayamo Anthem | |
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National anthem of  Cuba
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| Also known as | La Bayamesa English: The Bayamo Song |
| Lyrics | Perucho Figueredo |
| Music | Perucho Figueredo (Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer musical introductory notes), 1867 |
| Adopted | 1902 |
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El Himno de Bayamo (The Bayamo Anthem) 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.
Contents
Overview
On October 10, 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 [1]. The Cuban composer Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, was the author of the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.[1]
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. After 1868, during the Cuban war, a "mambí" version of La Bayamesa became popular. It has the same melody but different lyrics. 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.
Lyrics
Originally the song had six stanzas. The last four stanzas were removed in 1902 because it hurt the pride of the Spanish. Also it was too long compared to the other stanzas.
| Spanish lyrics | Translation |
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| First stanza | |
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¡Al combate, corred, Bayameses!, |
Run to battle, men of Bayamo! |
| Second stanza | |
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En cadenas vivir es vivir |
To live in chains it's to live |
| Third stanza (excluded) | |
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No temáis; los feroces íberos |
Fear not; the fierce Iberian |
| Fourth stanza (excluded) | |
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¡Cuba libre! Ya España murió, |
Free Cuba! Spain already died, |
| Fifth stanza (excluded) | |
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Contemplad nuestras huestes triunfantes |
Behold our triumphant troops |
| Sixth stanza (excluded) | |
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¡Cuba libre! podemos gritar |
Free Cuba! we can shout |
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to National anthem of Cuba. |
- Cuba: La Bayamesa - Audio of the national anthem of Cuba, with information and lyrics
- Cuban National Anthem Website Cuban National Anthem interpreted by Cuban artists with music and voice.
- Different Mp3 files (nacion.cult.cu)
- Infos about the hymn (nacion.cult.cu)
- Las Bayamesas Article in Spanish on the three songs named La Bayamesa
