The Argentine National Anthem is the national anthem

National anthem

A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

 of Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

. The name of the song originally was Marcha Patriótica (Patriotic March), and was later renamed Canción Patriótica Nacional (National Patriotic Song) and finally Canción Patriótica (Patriotic Song). A copy published in 1847 called it Himno Nacional Argentino and the name has remained ever since. Its lyrics were written by the Buenos Aires-born politician Vicente López y Planes

Vicente López y Planes

Alejandro Vicente López y Planes was an Argentine writer and politician who acted as interim President of Argentina from July 7, 1827 to August 18, 1827...

 and the music was composed by the Spanish musician Blas Parera

Blas Parera

Blas Parera was a Spanish music composer. He lived his part of his life in Buenos Aires.He was born in Catalunya, Spain and, in 1797, he moved to Buenos Aires. He contributed in the defence of the port of Buenos Aires during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata...

. The work was adopted as the sole official song on May 11, 1813, three years after the May Revolution

May Revolution

The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...

; May 11 is therefore Anthem Day in Argentina.

History

The first anthem was the Patriotic March, published on November 15, 1810 in the Gazeta de Buenos Ayres

Gazeta de Buenos Ayres

The Gazeta de Buenos Ayres was a newspaper created in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1810. It was initially used to give publicity to the government actions of the Primera Junta, the first Argentine government...

. It had lyrics by Esteban de Luca and music by Blas Parera. This original anthem made no reference to the name of Argentina or an independentist will, and talked instead about Spain being conquered by France in the Peninsular War

Peninsular War

The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...

, the absolutist restauration began by the Council of Regency, and the need to keep the republican freedoms achieved so far in the Americas: "Spain was victim / of the plotting Gaul / because to the tyrants / she bent her neck / If there treachery / has doomed a thousands cities / let sacred freedom and union reign here / Let the father to the sons / be able to say / enjoy rights / that I did not enjoy".

In mid-1812, the ruling triumvirate

First Triumvirate (Argentina)

The First Triumvirate was the executive body of government that replaced the Junta Grande in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata...

 ordered the Buenos Aires Cabildo

Buenos Aires Cabildo

The Buenos Aires Cabildo is the public building in Buenos Aires that was used as seat of the ayuntamiento during the colonial times and the government house of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata...

 to commission a national song. Cayetano Rodríguez, a Franciscan friar, wrote a text that was approved on 4 August. The Catalan musician Blas Parera, music director of the local theater, set it to music and premiered it with the orchestra he conducted on 1 November.

Less than a year later, the Assembly of Year XIII

Asamblea del Año XIII

The Assembly of Year XIII was a meeting called by the Second Triumvirate governing the young republic of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata on October 1812....

 estimated that the song was not effective enough to serve as a national symbol. On 6 March 1813, several poets were asked to submit lyrics. The poem by the lawyer Vicente López y Planes was unanimously considered the best. It was approved as the "sole national march" (única marcha nacional) on May 11, 1813. Parera was asked to compose a new musical setting around the same date. He must have finished the piece in a few days. Oral tradition has it that the premiere took place on May 14, 1813 at the home of the aristocrat Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson, but there is no documentary evidence of that. If this episode is true, then Parera, contrary to certain misconceptions, wrote quickly and under no visible coercion. He again conducted the official premiere in the theater on May 28, and was rewarded with 200 pesos

Argentine peso

The peso is the currency of Argentina, identified by the symbol $ preceding the amount in the same way as many countries using dollar currencies. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS...

.

The song includes a line advancing part of the centralist views in Buenos Aires ("Buenos Aires opposes, and it's leading the people of the illustrious Union"), but in many other lines it goes beyond the Argentine theater

Argentine War of Independence

The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...

 of the Spanish American wars of independence and references the events taking place in Mexico, Central America, Northern South America, and Upper Peru. The growing ideas of independence are reflected in lines such as "On the surface of Earth now rises a Nation glorious and new, her head is crowned with laurels, and a Lion lies at her feet". With it, it's not just the Spanish absolutism the enemy, but Spain itself.

The composition was then known as Canción Patriótica Nacional (National Patriotic Song), and later simply as Canción Patriótica (Patriotic Song), but in Juan Pedro Esnaola

Juan Pedro Esnaola

Juan Pedro Esnaola was an Argentine composer who arranged the Argentine National Anthem.He made...

's early arrangement, dated around 1848, it appeared under the title Himno Nacional Argentino, and the name has been retained until today. In the complete version of the Anthem of May (as was christened by López) it is noted that the political vision portrayed is not only Argentine, but Latin American. The lyrics are ardently pro-independence and anti-Spanish, as the country was at that time fighting for its independence from Spain.

The song became popular immediately. Within ten years, documented performances took place throughout Argentina, and in Chile, Peru, and Colombia, countries that employed the song until suitable replacements were created. An unwanted consequence of this popularity was the emergence of different versions, negatively affecting mass singing. For this reason, several reforms were proposed. In 1860, Esnaola was commissioned to create an official version. He took the task at heart, introducing a considerable number of musical changes, including a slower tempo, a fuller texture, alterations to the melody, and enrichment of the harmony. In 1927, a designated committee produced a historicist version that undid several of Esnaola's changes, albeit introducing new problems in the sung line. After a heated public debate fueled by the newspaper La Prensa

La Prensa (Buenos Aires)

La Prensa is an Argentine daily newspaper.Based in Buenos Aires, it was founded on 18 October 1869 by José C. Paz. La Prensa ranked among the most widely circulated dailies in Argentina in subsequent decades, earning a reputation for conservatism and support for British interests in Argentina...

, this version was rejected and, following the recommendations of a second committee, Esnaola's arrangement was officially reinstated. In 1944, it was confirmed as the official anthem.

Along the 19th century, the anthem was sung in its entirety. However, once the harsh feelings against Spain had disappeared, and the country had become home to many Spanish immigrants, a modification was introduced by a decree by President Julio Argentino Roca

Julio Argentino Roca

Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...

 on March 30, 1900. The decree read as follows:
In this way the lyrics which contained vivid attacks against Spain stopped being sung publicly.

Usage

Performance of the anthem is mandatory during all official events, and Argentines in attendance are expected to stand up and sing it. Radio

Radio in Argentina

Radio in Argentina is an important facet of the nation's media and culture. Radio, which was first broadcast in Argentina in 1920, has been widely enjoyed in Argentina since the 1930s. Radio broadcast stations totaled around 150 active AM stations, 1,150 FM stations, and 6 registered shortwave...

 broadcasters voluntarily perform the anthem at midnight, while TV channels do so before closing down their daily broadcast. On national holidays

Public holidays in Argentina

The following are the National public holidays and other observances of Argentina.Though holidays of many faiths are respected, public holidays usually include most Catholic holidays...

, it is mandatory to perform the anthem at midnight and noon.

The anthem is ruled in Argentine law

Law of Argentina

The Legal system of Argentina is a Civil law legal system. The two pillars of the Civil system are the Constitution of Argentina and the Civil Code of Argentina ....

 by Decree 10302/1944.

The rock musician Charly García

Charly García

Charly García is a singer-songwriter, pianist and keyboardist from Argentina with a long career in rock music, forming successful groups such as Sui Generis and Serú Girán, cult status groups like La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and as a solo musician.-Early years:Charly García was the eldest son in...

 broke legal regulations dealing with the reproduction of the song when he included an idiosyncratic cover version

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 in his 1990 album Filosofía barata y zapatos de goma, stirring much controversy. In 1998 various Argentine artists

Music of Argentina

The music of Argentina is known mostly for the tango, which developed in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, as well as Montevideo, Uruguay. Folk, pop and classical music are also popular, and Argentine artists like Mercedes Sosa and Atahualpa Yupanqui contributed greatly to the development of the...

 reedited the anthem and other patriotic songs in the joint album El Grito Sagrado. Other singers followed on their footsteps recreating the piece in their own ways.

Original version

The original version, Marcha Patriótica, is as follows:

Marcha Patriótica (1813)		¡Oíd, mortales!, el grito sagrado: ¡Libertad!, ¡Libertad!, ¡Libertad! Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas, ved en trono a la noble igualdad. Se levanta a la faz de la Tierra una nueva y gloriosa Nación, coronada su sien de laureles, y a sus plantas rendido un león. De los nuevos campeones los rostros Marte mismo parece animar la grandeza se anida en sus pechos: a su marcha todo hacen temblar. Se conmueven del Inca las tumbas, y en sus huesos revive el ardor, lo que ve renovando a sus hijos de la Patria el antiguo esplendor. Pero sierras y muros se sienten retumbar con horrible fragor: todo el país se conturba por gritos de venganza, de guerra y furor. En los fieros tiranos la envidia escupió su pestífera hiel; su estandarte sangriento levantan provocando a la lid más cruel. ¿No los veis sobre México y Quito arrojarse con saña tenaz y cuál lloran, bañados en sangre, Potosí, Cochabamba y La Paz? ¿No los veis sobre el triste Caracas luto y llanto y muerte esparcir? ¿No los veis devorando cual fieras todo pueblo que logran rendir? A vosotros se atreve, argentinos, el orgullo del vil invasor. Vuestros campos ya pisa contando tantas glorias hollar vencedor. Mas los bravos, que unidos juraron su feliz libertad sostener, a estos tigres sedientos de sangre fuertes pechos sabrán oponer. El valiente argentino a las armas corre ardiendo con brío y valor, el clarín de la guerra, cual trueno, en los campos del Sud resonó. Buenos Aires se pone a la frente de los pueblos de la ínclita unión, y con brazos robustos desgarran al ibérico altivo León. San José, San Lorenzo, Suipacha, ambas Piedras, Salta y Tucumán, La Colonia y las mismas murallas del tirano en la Banda Oriental. Son letreros eternos que dicen: aquí el brazo argentino triunfó, aquí el fiero opresor de la Patria su cerviz orgullosa dobló. La victoria al guerrero argentino con sus alas brillantes cubrió, y azorado a su vista el tirano con infamia a la fuga se dio. Sus banderas, sus armas se rinden por trofeos a la libertad, y sobre alas de gloria alza el pueblo trono digno a su gran majestad. Desde un polo hasta el otro resuena de la fama el sonoro clarín, y de América el nombre enseñado les repite: "¡Mortales, oíd!: ya su trono dignísimo abrieron las Provincias Unidas del Sud". Y los libres del mundo responden: "Al gran pueblo argentino, ¡salud! Sean eternos los laureles, que supimos conseguir. Coronados de gloria vivamos... ¡o juremos con gloria morir!	Hear, mortals, the sacred cry: "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" Hear the noise of broken chains, see the noble Equality enthroned. On the surface of this land now rises A Nation glorious and new, Her head is crowned with laurels, And a Lion lies at her feet. From the new Champions their faces Mars himself seems to encourage Greatness nestles in their bodies: at their march they make everything tremble. The dead Inca are shaken, and in their bones the ardour revives which renews their children of the Fatherland the ancient splendour. Mountain ranges and walls are felt to resound with horrible din: the whole country is disturbed by cries of revenge, of war and furore. In the fiery tyrants the envy spit the pestipherous bile; their bloody standard they rise provoking the most cruel combat. Don't you see them over Mexico and Quito throwing themselves with tenacious viciousness? And who they cry, bathed in blood, in Potosí, Cochabamba and La Paz? Don't you see them over sad Caracas spreading mourning and weeping and death? Don't you see them devouring as wild animals all people who surrender to them? To you it dares, Argentines, the pride of the vile invader; your fields it steps on, retelling so many glories as winner. But the braves, who united swore their merry freedom to sustain, to those blood-thirsty tigers bold chests they will know to oppose. The valiant Argentine to arms runs burning with determination and bravery, the war bugle, as thunder, in the fields of the South resounds. Buenos Aires opposes, and it's leading the people of the illustrious Union, and with robust arms they tear the arrogant Iberian lion. San José, San Lorenzo, Suipacha, both Piedras, Salta and Tucumán, La Colonia and the same walls of the tyrant in the Banda Oriental. They are eternal signboards that say: "Here the Argentine arm found triumph, here the fierce oppressor of the Fatherland his proud neck bent". Victory to the Argentine warrior covered with its brilliant wings, and embarrassed at this view the tyrant with infamy took to flight. Its flags, its arms surrender as trophies to freedom, and on wings of glory the people rise the worthy throne of their great majesty. From one pole to the other resounds the sonorous bugle of Fame, and of America the name showing they repeat "Mortals, hear!: For their most honorable throne have opened the United Provinces of the South." And the free ones of the world reply: "To the great Argentine people, hail!" May the laurels be eternal, that we knew how to win. Let us live crowned with glory... or swear to die gloriously!