Mexico's National Anthem Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Mexico's National Anthem.In 1853, President Antonio López de Santa Anna announced a competition to write a national anthem. The competition offered a prize for the best poetic composition worthy of representing a truly patriotic anthem. A deadline of twenty days was set.
Francisco González Bocanegra;, a talented poet, was at first not interested in participating in the competition. He argued that writing love poems involved very different skills from the ones required to write a nation's anthem. His fiancée, Guadalupe González del Pino; (Pili) – with undaunted faith in her fiancé's poetic skills and unsatisfied with his constant refusals to participate in spite of constant prodding from her and from their friends – decided to take measures. Under false pretenses, she lured him to a secluded bedroom in her house, locked him in, and refused to let him out until he produced an entry for the competition. After four hours of fluent, albeit forced inspiration, Francisco was able to regain his freedom by slipping his creation out under the door. His submission won the competition unanimously.
Later, in August 1854, music written by Spain-born Jaime Nunó, a military band inspector, was chosen. The anthem was officially adopted on Independence Day, September 16 of that same year. The inaugural interpretation was directed by Jaime Nunó himself and sang by soprano Balbina Steffenone and tenor Lorenzo Salvi. Francisco González Bocanegra; and Guadalupe González del Pino; (Pili), now married, also attended this event.
The fact that it was written by a Mexican poet and composed by a Spanish musician makes it the more nostalgic, for it symbolizes the cultural blend that created this country. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful national anthems, along with the French national anthem La Marseillaise and the former Soviet Union (1922-1944) national anthem The Internationale.
- Lyrics by Francisco González Bocanegra;, music by Jaime Nunó.
Notes: Stanza IV is no longer sung, since it refers to Antonio López de Santa Anna, who lost public favor after the country's defeat in the Mexican-American war. Also Stanza VII is no longer sung, since it refers to the first Mexican Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, who was sent to exile and forbidden, then inmediately after his return was executed. The anthem was written in a period of conservative ruling and when the liberal party returned to government, those stanzas were forbidden to be sung.
Coro:
Mexicanos al grito de guerra | Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
|
| Estrofa I
Ciña ¡oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva | First Stanza
Oh Fatherland! may your brow be wreathed with the olive
|
Estrofa II
En sangrientos combates los viste | Stanza II
In bloody combats you have seen them,
|
Estrofa III
Como al golpe del rayo la encina,
| Stanza III
As the lightning bolt blasts the oak
|
Estrofa IV
Del guerrero inmortal de Zempoala | Stanza IV
The terrible sword of the immortal
|
Estrofa V
Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente
| Stanza V
War, war without truce upon him who means
|
Estrofa VI
Antes, Patria, que inermes tu hijos, |
O Fatherland, before your unarmed sons
|
|
Estrofa VII
Si a la lid contra hueste enemiga,
|
Stanza VII
If to the struggle against a hostile host
|
| Estrofa VIII
Vuelva altivo a los patrios hogares, |
Stanza VIII
Let the warrior return proud to his native home
|
|
Estrofa IX
Y el que al golpe de ardiente metralla,
|
Stanza IX
And he who, to the burning shrapnel's stroke
|
|
Estrofa X
¡Patria, Patria! tus hijos te juran
|
Stanza X
Fatherland, Fatherland! Your sons swear |
In curret time, the chorus, stanza I and chorus repeat are sung in official events, as a rule. In radio and T.V. transmitions, at 6:00 am and 12:00 am, the anthem can be heard in a chorus, stanza I, chorus, stanza X and chorus recorded version. The official form of the anthem is the first mentioned.
This is an Article on Mexico's National Anthem. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Mexico's National Anthem
