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Story Behind the Anthem: Bolivia

03/29/2012 By 3 Comments

Story Behind the Anthem

The Bolivian national anthem was first publicly revealed in the city of La Paz. It was introduced as Canción Patriótica at noon on November 18, 1845, during the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Ingavi. Ninety musicians from the military band played the music composed by Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti, an Italian hired by President Ballivián.  That evening, Dr. José Ignacio de Sanjinés, the author of the anthem, explained the lyrics to an exuberant crowd in the Municipal Theatre. It is now tradition that every day at noon, the Bolivian flag is raised to the music of Himno Nacional in Plaza Murillo in the city of La Paz.

Dr. José Ignacio de Sanjinés was a poet and legislator. He was actually one of the signers of Bolivia’s declaration of independence, as well as the first constitution of Bolivia.

The anthem was officially declared Himno Nacional in 1852. There are four different stanzas in the anthem, but currently it’s more common to sing only the first stanza and the chorus.  However, the following video and lyrics are the complete version of Bolivia’s national anthem:

Bolivianos: el hado propicio
coronó nuestros votos y anhelos.
Es ya libre, ya libre este suelo,
ya cesó su servil condición.
Al estruendo marcial que ayer fuera
y al clamor de la guerra horroroso,
siguen hoy, en contraste armonioso,
dulces himnos de paz y de unión.
Siguen hoy, en contraste armonioso,
dulces himnos de paz y de unión.		 Bolivians, a most favorable destiny
has at long last crowned our vows and longings;
This land is free, free at last.
Its servile state has now finally ceased.
The martial turmoil of yesterday,
and the horrible clamor of war,
are followed today, in harmonious contrast,
by sweet hymns of peace and unity.
Are followed today, in harmonious contrast,
by sweet hymns of peace and unity.

                                                               Chorus:

De la Patria, el alto nombre,
en glorioso esplendor conservemos.
Y en sus aras de nuevo juremos:
¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir!
¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir!
¡Morir antes que esclavos vivir!		 Let us keep the lofty name of our Fatherland
in glorious splendor conserved.
And, on its altars, once more we must swear:
to die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!

 

Loor eterno a los bravos guerreros,
cuyo heroico valor y firmeza,
conquistaron las glorias que empieza
hoy Bolivia feliz a gozar.
Que sus nombres, en mármol y en bronce,
a remotas edades transmitan,
y en sonoros cantares repitan:
¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad!
Y en sonoros cantares repitan:
¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad!		 Eternal praise to the brave warriors
whose heroic valor and firmness
conquered the freedom and glories that now
a happy Bolivia justly begins to enjoy!
Let their names, preserved forever in marble and bronze,
transmit their glory to remote future ages.
And in resounding song let them repeat their simple call:
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
And in resounding song let them repeat their simple call:
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

                                                        (Repeat Chorus)

Aquí alzó la justicia su trono
que la vil opresión desconoce,
y en su timbre glorioso legose
libertad, libertad, libertad.
Esta tierra inocente y hermosa
que ha debido a Bolívar su nombre
es la patria feliz donde el hombre
goza el bien de la dicha y la paz.
Es la patria feliz donde el hombre
goza el bien de la dicha y la paz.		 Here has Justice erected its Throne
which vile oppression ignores
and, on its glorious stamp let us rejoice
Freedom, freedom, freedom
This innocent and beautiful land,
which owes its name to Bolívar,
is the happy homeland where mankind
enjoys the benefits of good fortune and peace.
Is the happy homeland where mankind
enjoys the benefits of good fortune and peace.

                                                         (Repeat Chorus) 

Si extranjero poder alqún día
sojuzgar a Bolivia intentare,
al destino fatal se prepare
que amenaza a soberbio invasor.
Que los hijos del grande Bolívar
hayan mil y mil veces jurado:
morir antes que ver humillado
de la Patria el augusto pendón.
Morir antes que ver humillado
de la Patria el augusto pendón.		 If a foreigner may, any given day
even attempt to subjugate Bolivia,
let him prepare for a fatal destiny,
which menaces such brave aggressor.
For the sons of the mighty Bolívar
have sworn, thousands upon thousands of times:
to die rather than see the country’s
majestic banner humiliated.
To die rather than see the country’s
majestic banner humiliated.

                                                        (Repeat Chorus)

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About Cindy Tovar

Born in Flushing, Queens to Colombian parents, Cindy has always loved reading and writing. For this reason, she entered Montclair State University to pursue an English degree, but instead fell in love with and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. During her time at Montclair State, Cindy joined the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) on campus. She immediately felt comfortable surrounded by peers that shared both love and pride for the Latino culture, something she had never experienced before. She ultimately became president of LASO. Since then, Cindy has earned her M.S. Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College, and works as a bilingual Special Education preschool teacher in Brooklyn. Despite feeling exhausted by the time she reaches her New Jersey home, she still uses her spare time to write. Joining the Being Latino family is one of the best things that has happened to Cindy because it fulfills her in two ways: She can write to her heart’s content while reaching an engaging audience, and it helps her stay connected to her Latino culture. You can find more of Cindy’s writing on her personal blogs: Dagny’s Dichotomy, and Cindy’s Chronicles.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

Comments

  1. Julio Alonso says:
    06/19/2012 at 7:05 pm

    Dr. José Ignacio de Sanjinés

  2. Julissa Centeno-Ramirez says:
    06/19/2012 at 7:08 pm

    Dr. José Ignacio de Sanjinés,

  3. Wilma Campos-Sekou says:
    06/19/2012 at 7:13 pm

    José Ignacio de Sanjinés

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