Being Latino on Google Plus

Story Behind the Anthem: Dominican Republic

06/21/2012 By 5 Comments

Story Behind the Anthem

dominican republic

The national anthem of the Dominican Republic, sometimes called Quisqueyanos Valientes, was composed by José Reyes in 1883 after he read a published copy of the Argentine national anthem. He thought his country should also have an anthem, so he asked his friend Emilio Prud’homme to write the lyrics. It was first performed publicly on August 17, 1883 at the Logia Esperanza in Santo Domingo.

The music itself was popular, but the factual information in the lyrics was questioned by several Dominican scholars until Prud’homme submitted the corrected version of the lyrics in 1897.

At this time, deputy Rafael Garcia Martinez proposed to Congress that Reyes’ and Prud’homme’s song become the official national anthem. However, President Ulises Heureaux refused to sign the bill into law, probably because Prud’homme was an opponent of his government. However, this didn’t stop the Dominican people from favoring the hymn and using it in official ceremonies.

It wasn’t until May 30, 1934 that President Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina officially adopted the song as the national anthem.

The original anthem has 12 verses, but usually only the first four are sung.

Filed Under: Cultura Tagged With: ,
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. Suilma Rivas says:
    06/21/2012 at 4:16 pm

    aww <3

  2. Carlos A. Morales-Miramontes says:
    06/21/2012 at 4:55 pm

    Since we’re in the season of most of our country’s independence days. Would love to read the meaning of each flags designs. They are all so beautiful…

  3. Being Dominican says:
    06/21/2012 at 6:43 pm

    love it!

  4. Caribbean Culture, Spanglish Cubaneria y Pachanga says:
    06/21/2012 at 9:11 pm

    Join me in my page, Caribbean with emphasis on Cubans who miss their homeland, those who are only now getting out and for all the Caribbeans, join us and make us grow. Gracias

  5. Jeannette Espinosa says:
    06/22/2012 at 1:06 am

    Quisqueyana soy!

Speak Your Mind

*