The lyrics and score were printed for the first time in the culture magazineLa Ilustración Guatemalteca, where the original author of the lyrics appeared as "Anonymous".[3] It was not until 1910, shortly before his death, that Palma confessed being the author.
In 1879, the El Porvenir Literary Society unsuccessfully attempted to create a national anthem forGuatemala.[4][5] In 1887, the president of Guatemala, GeneralManuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián, called for a competition to choose music that would complement the lyrics of the "National Anthem [es]" written by poet Ramón P. Molina. Distinguished composers took part in this competition, and the triumph was awarded to music presented byRafael Álvarez Ovalle [es].[3][6]
Colón Theatre after its remodelling in 1892. The National Anthem of Guatemala was premiered here on 14 March 1897.
In 1896, the government of GeneralJosé María Reina Barrios called for a new competition, "considering that Guatemala lacks a National Anthem, since the one known to this day by that name not only suffers from notable defects, but also has not been officially declared as such; and that it is convenient to provide the country with an anthem that, through its lyrics and music, responds to the lofty purposes for which all educated people lend this kind of composition."[7][8] In this new competition, Rafael Álvarez Ovalle's work was chosen again, this time musicalising a poem written under the pseudonym "Anonymous".
The victory granted again to the teacher Álvarez Ovalle cost him the most bitter moments of his existence, as there was discontent among those who did not win, who even sent their complaint to the president. Reina Barrios, in the presence of the members of his cabinet, other figures and teachers of musical art, listened again to all the compositions that competed in the competition, and Álvarez Ovalle's was unanimously selected again.[9]
With respect to the lyrics, the qualifying jury determined the following:[8]
"Guatemala, 27 October 1896. Mr. Minister of Public Instruction. Present.
In compliance with the honorable commission with which you favored us, taking charge of the qualification of the 'national anthems' presented to this secretariat, by virtue of the competition opened by the agreement of the 24th of last July, we have examined the twelve compositions that with such objective you were kind enough to send us on the 15th of the current. Encouraged by best wishes, and with a view to making the appointment required by the aforementioned agreement, we have met several times, and after a long and careful examination, we have the honor to inform you that, in our opinion, the anthem that begins with the wordsGuatemala feliz and carries at the bottom the lyrics of 'Anonymous' in parentheses is the one that best responds to the conditions of the call and deserves, therefore, the prize offered. Thus we have the honor of issuing the report that the secretariat of your worthy position requested of us, writing to us with all consideration and appreciation, the minister, very attentive and reliable servants.
José Leonard, J. J. Palma, F. Castañeda."
— Text of the report submitted by the qualifying jury of the literary competition, made up of F. Castañeda, J. Joaquín Palma and José Leonard.
As can be seen, Cuban poetJosé Joaquín Palma was a member of the qualifying jury.[8]
Palma's lyrics were officially adopted on 28 October 1896, while Álvarez Ovalle's music was officially adopted on 19 February 1897.[10][11] The premiere of the National Anthem took place in the literary lyrical act held at theColón Theatre on the night of Sunday, 14 March 1897, as one of the main points of the programme of celebrations of theExposición Centroamericana, with Álvarez Ovalle being decorated with a medal of gold and diploma of honor.[8]
The author of the lyrics of the National Anthem of Guatemala remained a deep mystery until 1910, when it was discovered that its author was Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma, since he revealed on his deathbed that he was the author of the lyrics of the anthem.[12] The government ofManuel Estrada Cabrera awarded both him and Rafael Álvarez Ovalle with gold laurel wreaths at theFiestas Minervalias [es] that year.[1][8]
The original lyrics of the Guatemalan anthem written by José Joaquín Palma were warlike, since Palma was inspired more by the political situation his native Cuba was going through than that Guatemala experienced during its independence: while Central America separated fromSpanish Empire peacefully, Cuba waswaging a fierce war against Spain at the time Palma wrote the anthem.
I ¡Guatemala feliz…! ya tus aras No sangrienta feroz el verdugo, No hay cobardes que laman el yugo[d] Ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.
Si mañana tu suelo sagrado Lo profana invasión extranjera Tinta en sangre tu hermosa bandera De mortaja al audaz servirá.[e]
Coro I: Tinta en sangre tu hermosa bandera De mortaja al audaz servirá, Que tu pueblo con ánima fiera Antes muerto que esclavo será.
II De tus viejas y duras cadenas Tu fundiste con mano iracunda El arado que el suelo fecunda, Y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un día Encendidos en patrio ardimiento, Te arrancaron del potro sangriento Y te alzaron un trono de amor.
Coro II: Te arrancaron del potro sangriento Y te alzaron un trono de amor. Que de patria al enérgico acento Muere el crimen y se hunde el error.[f]
III Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo Entre nubes de nítida albura[g] Y ¡ay de aquel que con mano perjura Sus colores se atreva a manchar!
Que tus hijos valientes y altivos Ven con gozo en la ruda pelea El torrente de sangre que humea Del acero al vibrante chocar.[h]
Coro III: El torrente de sangre que humea Del acero al vibrante chocar, Que es tan sólo el honor su presea Y el altar de la patria, su altar.
IV Recostada en el ande soberbio De dos mares al ruido sonoro Bajo el ala de grana y de oro Te adormeces del bello quetzal.
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo, Paladión que protege tu suelo ¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo Más que el cóndor y el águila real!
Coro IV: ¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo Más que el cóndor y el águila real, Y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo, Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal!
I Merry Guatemala…! Your altars The fierce executioner no longer bloodies, There are no cowards who lick the yoke Nor tyrants who spit on your face.
If tomorrow your sacred ground Is profaned by foreign invasion Stained in blood, your beautiful flag Will serve as a shroud for the bold.
Chorus I: Stained in blood, your beautiful flag Will serve as a shroud for the bold, May your people with fierce spirit Be rather dead than a slave.
II From your old and hard chains You smelted with an angry hand The plough that fertilizes the soil, And the sword that saves honor.
Our fathers fought one day Burning with national ardor, They tore you from the bloody rack And lifted you a throne of love.
Chorus II: They tore you from the bloody rack And lifted you a throne of love. May from fatherland to the energetic focus Crime die and error sink.
III Your ensign is a piece of heaven Between clouds of clear whiteness And woe to he who perjures with hand Dares to stain its colors!
May your brave and proud children See with joy in the rough fight The torrent of blood that emanates From the steel to the vibrant clash.
Chorus III: The torrent of blood that emanates From the steel to the vibrant clash, Which is only the honor of their medal And the altar of the fatherland, their altar.
IV Lying on the superb Andes From two seas to the sonorous noise Under the wing of scarlet and gold You fall asleep to the beautifulquetzal.
Indian bird that lives onyour coat of arms, Palladium that protects your soil May it take its flight More than the condor and the golden eagle!
Chorus IV: May it take its flight More than the condor and the golden eagle, And on its wings lift up to the sky, Guatemala, your immortal name!
For not reflecting Guatemalan reality, Palma's lyrics were modified by Guatemalan poet and pedagogueJosé María Bonilla Ruano in 1934,[2] according to the Government Decree of 26 July 1934 by the government of GeneralJorge Ubico Castañeda.[11] These are the lyrics sung today.
I ¡Guatemala feliz…! que tus aras no profane jamás el verdugo; ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.
Si mañana tu suelo sagrado lo amenaza invasión extranjera, libre al viento tu hermosa bandera a vencer o a morir llamará.
Coro I: Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera a vencer o a morir llamará; que tu pueblo con ánima fiera antes muerto que esclavo será.
II De tus viejas y duras cadenas tú forjaste con mano iracunda, el arado que el suelo fecunda y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un día encendidos en patrio ardimiento, y lograron sin choque sangriento colocarte en un trono de amor.
Coro II: Y lograron sin choque sangriento colocarte en un trono de amor, que de patria en enérgico acento dieron vida al ideal redentor.
III Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo en que prende una nube su albura, y ¡ay! de aquel que con ciega locura sus colores pretenda manchar.
Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos, que veneran la paz cual presea, nunca esquivan la ruda pelea si defienden su tierra y su hogar.
Coro III: Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea si defienden su tierra y su hogar, que es tan sólo el honor su alma idea y el altar de la patria su altar.
IV Recostada en el ande soberbio, de dos mares al ruido sonoro, bajo el ala de grana y de oro te adormeces del bello Quetzal.
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo, paladión que protege tu suelo; ¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo, más que el cóndor y el águila real!
Coro IV: ¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo, más que el cóndor y el águila real! y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo, Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal.
I Merry Guatemala…! That your altars Never be profaned by the tormentor, Nor there be slaves who lick the yoke Nor tyrants who spit on your face.
If tomorrow your sacred ground Is threatened by foreign invasion Free to the wind,your beautiful flag To victory or death it will call.
Chorus I: Free to the wind, your beautiful flag To victory or death it will call; That your people with fierce spirit Rather dead than slave become.
II From your old and hard chains You forged with an angry hand The plough that fertilizes the soil, And the sword that saves honor.
Our fathers fought one day Burning with patriotic fervor, Andmanaged without a bloody clash To place you on a throne of love.
Chorus II: And managed without a bloody clash To place you on a throne of love, Which from fatherland in energetic focus Gave life to the redemptive ideal.
III A piece of heaven your ensign is In which a cloud enlightens its alabaster And… woe to him who with blind madness Its colors intends to stain!
Because your brave and proud children, Who venerate peace as a prized gift, Never dodge the rough fight If they defend their land and their home.
Chorus III: Never dodge the rough fight If they defend their land and their home, That honor is their guiding cry And the altar of the fatherland their altar.
IV Leaning on the proud alp From two seas to the sonorous noise Under the wing of scarlet and gold You are dazzled by the beautifulquetzal.
Indian bird that lives inyour shield, Palladium that protects your land May it take its flight Higher than thecondor and the golden eagle!
Chorus IV: May it take its flight Higher than the condor and the golden eagle, And on its wings lift up to the sky, Guatemala, your immortal name!
The National Anthem of Guatemala has been considered by Carlos Labin, a member of the Americanist Society of Paris and the Musicology Society of France, as the "most original" of all the anthems of the American continent.[15]
^The anthem is often erroneously titledGuatemala Feliz!, from its opening lyrics, but it has no official name and is only referred to in the country asHimno Nacional
^President Manuel Lisandro Barillas had previously selected a different anthem a decade earlier but it was considered defective by President Reyna and replaced.
^José Joaquín Palma had actively participated in the Cuban independence effort.
^The stanza corresponds more to theCuban War of Independence than the situation by which Guatemala became independent from Spain. Palma lived in Guatemala after being exiled from Cuba for his participation in the independence movement,[8] taking advantage of the fact that the government ofJusto Rufino Barrios had recognised the independent government in exile in Cuba. Along with Palma, several distinguished Cubans settled in Guatemala, among themJosé Martí.
^Apparently, this stanza is based on the death of Cuban heroJosé Martí.
^This stanza is direct in its criticism of the Spanish administration in America.
^This stanza was modified to imply that the national flag was white, blue and white.
^Another reference to the situation in Cuba in 1897
