Marcha Real

La Marcha Real ("The Royal March") is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no official lyrics.

The origins of the anthem, one of the oldest in Europe, are unknown. The melody was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled El Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española (The Spanish Infantry's Book of Military Bugle Calls), by Manuel de Espinosa. Here it is entitled [La Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("March of the Grenadiers"), though no composer's name is given.

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the [Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) to be the official "Honour March", thereby according it a place at public and ceremonial events. Because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the [Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as their national anthem and called it the [Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), or "Royal March".

Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), [El Himno de Riego] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) replaced [La Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored [La Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as the country's national anthem, under its old title of [La Marcha Granadera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help).

Modern Anthem

The current version was commissioned to Francisco Grau after the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. In October 1997 a Royal Decree was promulgated regulating the official use of the [Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) as the national anthem of Spain.

Lyrics

Though the [Marcha Real] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) has no lyrics, lyrics have been written and used for it in the past. One version was used during Alfonso XIII's reign and another during General Franco's dictatorship; however, none of them were ever official.

In 2007, the Spanish Olympic committee asked the public to submit lyrics proposals for the Marcha Real, the rationale being that Spanish sportsmen are only able to hum when their anthem is played at sporting events. Politicians, including the PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, steered clear of the issue in order not to alienate some Basques, Catalans, or Galicians who tend to identify with their own regions rather than with the Spanish state. A number of the Autonomous communities of Spain have their own anthems. See Anthems of the autonomous communities of Spain for details.

Alfonso XIII lyrics:

Lyrics by Eduardo Marquina (1879-1946) Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria, soberana luz que es oro en tu Pendón. Vida, vida, futuro de la Patria, que en tus ojos es abierto corazón. Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal; en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están. Púrpura y oro: querer y lograr; Tú eres, bandera, el signo del humano afán. Gloria, gloria, corona de la Patria, soberana luz que es oro en tu Pendón. Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal; en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están.

English language version Glory, glory, crown of the Fatherland sovereign light which in your standard is gold. Life, life, future of the Fatherland, in your eyes it is an open heart Purple and gold: immortal flag; in your colors, together, flesh and soul are. Purple and gold: to want and to achieve; You are, flag, the sign of human effort. Glory, glory, crown of the Fatherland sovereign light which in your standard is gold. Purple and gold: immortal flag; in your colors, together, flesh and soul are.

Franco lyrics:

Lyrics by José María Pemán (1897-1981) Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos del pueblo español, que vuelve a resurgir. Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol. Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol. ¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas cantan al compás del himno de la fe. ¡Triunfa España! Los yunques y las ruedas cantan al compás del himno de la fe. Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz. Juntos con ellos cantemos de pie la vida nueva y fuerte del trabajo y paz. Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos del pueblo español, que vuelve a resurgir. Viva España, alzad los brazos, hijos del pueblo español, que vuelve a resurgir. Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol. Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir, sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.

English language version Long Live Spain, raise your arms, children of the Spanish people, who are rising again. Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, over the blue of the sea the path of the sun. Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, over the blue of the sea the path of the sun. Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels sing to the rhythm of the hymn of the faith. Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels sing to the rhythm of the hymn of the faith. Together with them let's stand and sing the new powerful life of labour and peace. Together with them let's stand and sing the new powerful life of labour and peace. Long Live Spain, raise your arms, sons of the Spanish people, who are arising again. Long Live Spain, raise your arms, sons of the Spanish people, who are arising again. Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, over the blue of the sea the path of the sun. Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

External links

• National Hymn Government Site (Spanish)
• MIDI File
• MP3 Version from the US Navy Band
• Banda y Musica de la Academia de Artilleria - The complete three-verse version of Marcha Real