Marcha Real

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La Marcha Real English: The Royal March
The Coat of arms of Spain.
National Anthem of	Spain
Lyrics	None
Music	Unknown
Adopted	1770

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 ("March of the Grenadiers"), though no composer's name is given.

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the Marcha Granadera 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 as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or "Royal March".

Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country's national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera.

Spain's national anthem does not have words.

1 Lyrics
- 1.1 Alfonso XIII lyrics:
- 1.2 Franco lyrics:
2 Lyric competition
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Lyrics

Though the Marcha Real has no lyrics, words 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 was ever made official.

[edit] Alfonso XIII lyrics:

Marcha Real, Eduardo Marquina (help·info)

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.

[edit] Franco lyrics:

'Lyrics by José María Pemán (1897-1981) asked by Miguel Primo de Rivera

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.

¡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.

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.

English language version

Long live Spain, raise your forehead, sons [often changed to raise your arms]
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.

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.

Long live Spain, raise your forehead, sons
of the Spanish people,
who are arising again.

Long Live Spain, raise your forehead, 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 Motherland that knew how to follow,
over the blue of the sea the path of the sun.

[edit] Lyric competition

After witnessing a rousing rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at Anfield in 2007, the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, said he felt inspired to seek lyrics to La Marcha Real ahead of Madrid's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.^[1]^[2] 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.^[3] A number of the Autonomous communities of Spain have their own anthems. See Anthems of the autonomous communities of Spain for details. After widespread public criticism of the proposed lyrics, the Spanish Olympic Committee withdrew them in January 2008, after just 5 days.^[4]

2008 proposal:

¡Viva España!
Cantemos todos juntos
con distinta voz
y un solo corazón

¡Viva España!
desde los verdes valles
al inmenso mar,
un himno de hermandad

Ama a la patria
pues sabe abrazar,
bajo su cielo azul,
pueblos en libertad

Gloria a los hijos
que a la Historia dan
justicia y grandeza
democracia y paz.

English language version

Long live Spain!
We sing together,
with different voices,
and only one heart.

Long live Spain!
From the green valleys,
to the immense sea,
a hymn of brotherhood.

Love the Fatherland,
which knows how to embrace,
below the blue sky,
people in freedom.

Glory to the sons,
who to history give,
justice and greatness,
democracy and peace.