Andalusia is the autonomous community of Spain with the largest number of inhabitants, as well as being one of the most beautiful and also a community whose anthem is quite popular, but do you know the history of the anthem of Andalusia? Did you know that he has some versions very famous? Know now all this information, in addition to discover its sheet music and lyrics.
The history of the anthem of Andalusia
Already in article 60.2 of the Statute of Andalusia, which gave rise to the fact that after being able to establish itself definitively in 1980, the Day of Andalusia was celebrated every February 28it appears reflected that Andalusia has a hymn as well as a coat of armsbut the truth is that both elements were agreed much earlier, both in the Ronda Assembly of 1918 and by the Liberalist Juntas of Andalusia in 1933.
It was in the Round Assembly mentioned, where it was decided not only create an anthem for Andalusia but also a shield and a flag. The three banners were entrusted to Blas Infante, essayist, politician and notary, who defended Andalusianism, in its regionalist, federalist, nationalist aspects, until he was shot on August 11, 1936.
In the specific case of the anthem, the lyrics were by Blas Infante, but the music was by José del Castillo Díaz. For this, as well as for the coat of arms and the flag, Infante was inspired by some of the traditional Andalusian elements. Thus, the Andalusian anthem based its music on the Holy God, a religious song which was quite popular among Andalusian peasants and day laborers as they used to sing them at harvest time, while the lyrics reflected some of the claims of the Andalusians that at the beginning of the 20th century were considered as something fundamental. Likewise, the lyrics of the anthem of Andalusia is a peace love affirmationas well as a a song of hope and the desire for solidarity.
since it was created and presented, by the Municipal Band of Seville, in 1936Andalusians have interpreted it as one of their three most representative symbols (along with the flag and the coat of arms), but it was not approved by the Law of the Andalusian Parliament until 1980, since with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War it was only preserved in a piano manuscript.
In 1977 the musician Carlos Cano made a version with a choir from Seville and some of the musicians who had worked with Blas Infante. Later in 1979, the same Municipal Band of Seville presented it again.
The versions of the anthem of Andalusia
Since it was approved from the establishment of the statute of Andalusia in 1980, the anthem has had several versions. To the two mentioned, which were carried out in 1977 and 1979, other different ones were added, although perhaps the most important are the instrumentalized and revised versions of Manuel Castillo in the 1980s.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most popular hymns that we have in Spain. In fact, it is one of the few that have had not only versions to be played institutionally, but alsoe great Andalusian artists have also created their own version of the anthem of Andalusia so that it has even been able to cross borders.
This is the case of the version made by the famous singer and artist, Jury Dew. His is in fact the most popular version and that is most often heard in the celebration of the Day of Andalusia. In fact, after Jurado’s death in 2006, this version is considered the “official” of all those that have been made.
More recent is the version made by Estrella Morente, in 2014. A version that was the “colophon”, to the award ceremony of the Medals of Andalusia and at the end of which the anthem always sounds. That year, the performance was also dedicated to Paco de Lucía, who had died in February of that same year. In that same ceremony, the anthem of Andalusia was also played in two voices, in a version performed by India Martinez and Archangel with a somewhat more classic style. The singer Michael Povedahas also been another of the artists to perform his version of the famous hymn of Andalusia, accompanied by a string quartet. As you can see, there are many versions of this hymn, and there are many others that we show you, but perhaps the that everyone should listen at first be that aforementioned version of Carlos Canomade at the end of the 70s with part of the musicians who had originally played the anthem together with Blas Infante.
The score and lyrics of the anthem of Andalusia
Once we have seen the history behind the anthem of Andalusia and also what different versions have been produced over the years, you may wish to be able to play it yourself or sing it on the next Andalusia Day. You will then need the sheet music as well as the complete lyrics, which is also short so it will be easy for you to learn.
Music sheet
We present the score in three different versions, depending on its difficulty (click on the image to enlarge it).
This is the sheet music for the Anthem of Andalusia (easy level)
This is the sheet music for the Anthem of Andalusia (professional level)
We leave it in the gallery (click inside to see it in full).
Lyrics
And finally we leave you with the full lyrics:
The white and green flag
returns, after centuries of war,
to say peace and hope,
under the sun of our land.
Andalusians, get up!
Ask for land and freedom!
Be for free Andalusia,
Spain and Humanity!
We Andalusians want
go back to being what we were
men of light, who to men,
soul of men we gave them.
Andalusians, get up!
Ask for land and freedom!
Be for free Andalusia,
Spain and Humanity!
This is all the information we have about the Anthem of Andalusia, of which we can only add that the piano on which Blas Infante himself composed his melody, with the help of Maestro Castillo, is in the music room of the House of Blas Infante, known as the House of Joy. A place that many Andalusians visit on Andalusia Day and a place that was declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Andalusian Government on July 4, 2006 and recognized as the first Place of Historical Memory on December 31, 2011.