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Marcha Real |
| English: The Royal March The Coat of arms of Spain. |
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| National Anthem of | |
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| Lyrics | None |
| Music | Unknown |
| Adopted | 1770 |
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.
The origins of the anthem, one of the oldest in Europe, are unknown. The melody was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled El 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 ("March of the Grenadiers"), though no composer's name is given.
In 1770, King Carlos III declared the Marcha Granadera 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 as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or "Royal March".
Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country's national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera.
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Though the Marcha Real 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.1
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Lyrics by Eduardo Marquina (1879-1946) Vida, vida, futuro de la Patria, Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal; Púrpura y oro: querer y lograr; Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria, Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal; |
English language translation Life, life, future of the Fatherland, Purple and gold: immortal flag; Purple and gold: to want and to achieve; Glory, glory, crown of the Fatherland Purple and gold: immortal flag; |
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'Lyrics by José María Pemán (1897-1981) asked by Miguel Primo de Rivera Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, ¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas ¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, |
English language version Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels Together with them let's stand and sing Together with them let's stand and sing Long live Spain, raise your forehead, sons Long Live Spain, raise your forehead, sons Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, |
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.23 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.4 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.5
2008 proposal:
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English language version |