| English: 'The Bayamo Anthem' | |
|---|---|
 | |
National anthem of Cuba | |
| Also known as | "La Bayamesa" (English: 'The Bayamo Song') |
| Lyrics | Perucho Figueredo |
| Music | Perucho Figueredo andAntonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, 1867 |
| Adopted | 1902 |
| Readopted | 1909 |
| Relinquished | 1906 |
| Audio sample | |
Instrumental rendition inB-flat major | |
"La Bayamesa" (/ˌbaɪəˈmɛsə/BY-ə-MES-ə), officially known by its full title as "El Himno de Bayamo" ('The Bayamo Anthem'), is thenational anthem ofCuba. It was first performed in 1868, during theBattle of Bayamo.Perucho Figueredo, who took part in the battle, wrote the lyrics to the anthem, and he, along withAntonio Rodriguez-Ferrer, composed the melody of "La Bayamesa" in 1868.
On October 20, 1868, the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spanish colonial authorities inBayamo, 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,[1] which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spanish two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his song: "Morir por la Patria es vivir" ('To die for one's country is to live').[2]
Officially adopted by Cuba as its national anthem in 1902, upon the foundation of theRepublic, it was retained even after therevolution of 1959. The Cuban composerAntonio Rodriguez-Ferrer contributed the musical introductory notes to the Cuban national anthem.[3]
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 byCarlos Manuel de Céspedes and José Fornaris at the request of their friend Francisco Castillo Moreno, who is sometimes also credited with the lyrics.[4] After 1868, during the Cuban war, a "mambí" version of "La Bayamesa" became popular. It has the same melody but different lyrics.[5] Many years later, in 1918, the composer andtrovadorSindo Garay, fromSantiago de Cuba, composed a song that he called "Mujer Bayamesa"; popular usage shortened the title to "La Bayamesa".[6]
Originally, the song had three verses. The last two were excluded when the anthem was officially adopted in 1902, because the lyrics were seen to be excessively anti-Spanish[7] and too long compared with the other verses.
| Spanish original[8][9] | IPA transcription | English translation |
|---|---|---|
¡Al combate, corred, bayameses!, | [al kom.ˈba.te ko.ˈreð ba.ʝa.ˈme.ses ǀ] | To combat, run, people of Bayamo! |
