José Reyes was inspired to create a national anthem for the Dominican Republic after having seen theArgentine National Anthem in the Parisian newspaperEl Americano. In 1883, he invited his friend Emilio Prud'Homme to write lyrics for the anthem.[1]
The first version of Prud'Homme's lyrics was published in the weekly newspaperEl Eco de la Opinion on 16 August 1883,[1] and the first public performance of the anthem took place the next day on 17 August[2] in Respectable Hope Lodge No. 9 inSanto Domingo.[3] Though the music was an instant success, several objections were made to the lyrics for having various historical inaccuracies. In 1897, Prud’Homme submitted revised lyrics, which stand to this day.[3]
On 7 June 1897, theCongress of the Dominican Republic passed an act adopting "Himno Nacional" with the original music and revised lyrics as the country's official national anthem; however, then-PresidentUlises Heureaux (1846–1898) vetoed the act, because the lyric's author, Prud’Homme, was an opponent of the president and his administration.[1] In 1899, Heureaux was assassinated, and the political disorder that ensued prevented the national anthem's legal adoption until 30 May 1934, when "Himno Nacional" was officially adopted and signed into law.[3][1][4]
TheSpanish name of the Dominican Republic, "República Dominicana", is never used in the anthem's official Spanish lyrics, nor is the demonym for Dominicans, "dominicanos". Rather, the indigenous word for the island ofHispaniola, "Quisqueya", is used twice, and its derivative demonym, "quisqueyanos", is used once. However, research later showed that these words do not seem to derive from the originalArawakTaíno language.[5]
In public, the national anthem is usually performed through the end of the lyric's fourth paragraph.
III Compatriotas, mostremos erguida Nuestra frente, orgullosos de hoy más; Que Quisqueya será destruida Pero sierva de nuevo, ¡jamás!
Que es santuario de amor cada pecho Do la patria se siente vivir; Y es su escudo invencible el derecho; Y es su lema ser libre o morir.
¡Libertad! que aún se yergue serena La Victoria en su carro triunfal, Y el clarín de la guerra aún resuena Pregonando su gloria inmortal.
¡Libertad! Que los ecos se agiten Mientras llenos de noble ansiedad Nuestros campos de gloria repiten ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!
I Brave Quisqueyans, let us raise Our song with vivid emotion, And let’s show to the face of the Earth Our unconquered, glorious banner.
Hail, the people who strong and intrepid, Into war launched itself set to die When in a warring challenge to the death Its chains of slavery cut off.
No people deserves to be free If it’s an indolent and servile slave; If in its chest doesn't grow the flame that forged the virile heroism.
But Quisqueya the brave and indomitable Always proudly her forehead will raise For if she were a thousand times a slave This many times will she be free.
II And if fraud and cunning exposed her To disdain of an intrusive man, Las Carreras! Beler!...were fields Which covered in glory were seen.
At the top of heroic bastion, Word of the free was materialized, Where the genius of Sanchez and Duarte Taught to be free or to die.
And if an inconsiderate ruler Could tarnish the glow of such glories, The war banner of fire was seen Waving over Capotillo.
And the fire that leaves stunned The arrogant lion from Castile, Pulls it away from the glorious beaches Where the crossed banner floats.
III Compatriots, let’s hold our Forehead high, like never before; For Quisqueya will be destroyed But it will never again be enslaved.
That every chest is a shrine of love Where one feels the homeland alive; It is the law her invincible shield; It is her motto be free or die.
Liberty that serenely stands up Victory in her triumphal carriage. The trumpet of war still resounds Proclaiming her immortal glory
Freedom! Let the echoes agitate While full of noble anxiety Our battlefields of glory reverb these words - Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
