National anthem of Bolivia

The national anthem of Bolivia (), also known by its incipit "Bolivians, the Propitious Fate" () and by its original title "Patriotic Song" (), was adopted in 1851. José Ignacio de Sanjinés, a signer of both the Bolivian Declaration of Independence and the first Bolivian Constitution, wrote the lyrics. The music was composed by an Italian, Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti.

It is a march in 4/4 time, although it is popularly sung in 12/8. It was premiered in the city of La Paz, in front of the Palacio de Gobierno, at noon on 18 November 1845, by about 90 instrumentalists belonging to the military bands of the 5th, 6th and 8th battalions. That day, the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Ingavi was celebrated with several acts of extraordinary magnitude, a highlight of which was the opening of the Template:Interlanguage link.

In 1851, during the government of General Manuel Isidoro Belzu, the national anthem of Bolivia was made official by a supreme decree. It was then printed for distribution in schools. It has since been performed and sung in all official school functions.

History

Background

In the city of Chuquisaca (modern Sucre) in 1835, the composition called "" ("National March") came to light, the first national anthem, the work of the Peruvian teacher Pedro Ximénez Abril Tirado, who was the chapelmaster of Chuquisaca Cathedral. This composition did not become official, quite possibly due to the creation, organization and subsequent elimination of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (1836–1839).

The original scores are found in the Historical Archive of Chuquisaca Cathedral, where they are part of the musical heritage of Bolivia. A piano performance, performed by the teacher María Antonieta García Meza de Pacheco, exists in a compilation on CD as a tribute to the work of Ximenez Abrill Tirado.

National anthem

Once the independence and sovereignty of Bolivia were consolidated in the Battle of Ingavi on 18 November 1841, the need for a patriotic song was noted again because General José Ballivián, then president of Bolivia, noted that small bands of the Army were not managing to conquer popular fervor by performing inherited Spanish marches and popular pieces.

It was under these circumstances that Ballivián learned of the visit to Chile of Italian teacher and composer Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti, whom he invited in 1844 to exercise the position of general director of bands of the Bolivian army and to compose, under contract, the music of the "" ("Patriotic Song"), under which name it was to be known at the time. Vincenti arrived in La Paz in September 1844 and found the musical bands in a dire state, as could be established in his family letters. His work was exhausting; many times, he went to bed dressed to go to the barracks at dawn. The trials were long and pressing. Vincenti rejected one text after another; it was then that lawyer and poet José Ignacio Sanjinéz presented him with the verses of what is now the Bolivian national anthem, originally written in Spanish.

In the La Paz Plaza Murillo at noon on 18 November 1845, after Te Deum was performed at the Cathedral of La Paz in honor of the Battle of Ingavi, the military bands of the Battalions 5th, 6th and 8th played, for the first time, the chords of the Bolivian national anthem. Ballivián came out excited to one of the balconies of the Palacio Quemado, profusely congratulating the performance.

That same night, simultaneously, the Template:Interlanguage link was premiered in a lyrical-musical program, a central part of which was the interpretation of the "". The new theatre was packed: the president of the republic, José Ballivián, attended with his cabinet; prefectural, municipal, and public authorities gathered.

Lyrics

The first verse and chorus are usually performed at official events. If brevity is required, only the chorus may be performed.

Spanish original

Spanish lyrics

English translation

I Bolivians, a propitious fate 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. 𝄇 Chorus: Let us keep the lofty name of our Fatherland in glorious splendor. 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! II 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 songs let them repeat: Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! 𝄇 Template:Yesitalic III Here has Justice erected its throne which vile oppression ignores and, on its glorious laurel it bequeathed us Freedom, freedom, freedom This innocent and beautiful land, which owes its name to Bolívar, 𝄆 is the happy homeland where mankind enjoys the benefits of bliss and peace. 𝄇 Template:Yesitalic IV If a foreigner may, any given day even attempt to subjugate Bolivia, let him prepare for a fatal destiny, which menaces such haughty 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. 𝄇 Template:Yesitalic

In indigenous languages

Aymara lyrics	Aymara IPATemplate:Efn	Quechua lyrics	Quechua IPATemplate:Efn

Guaraní lyrics	Guaraní IPATemplate:Efn	Trinitario Moxos lyrics	Trinitario Moxos IPATemplate:Efn

See also

• Read full texts on Wikisource
• Read full Spanish texts on the Spanish Wikisource

External links

• Bolivia: Himno Nacional de Bolivia - Audio of the national anthem of Bolivia, with information and lyrics (archive link)