National Anthem of Colombia

The "National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia" (Spanish: Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia) is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia. It is largely the creation of José Domingo Torres, an actor from Bogotá, who took a poem written by former Colombian president Rafael Núñez and asked a friend, Italian opera singer Oreste Sindici who migrated to Colombia, to set it to music.[1]

Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia

English: National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia
Front page of the sheet music to the National Anthem of Colombia.
National anthem of  Colombia
Lyrics	Rafael Núñez, 1887
Music	Oreste Sindici, 1887
Adopted	October 28, 1920 (de facto) 1995 (de jure)
Audio sample
"National anthem of Colombia" (instrumental) file help

The official announcement of the song came in the form of Act 33 of 28 October 1920. The law 198 of 1995, which legislates national symbols, made mandatory for all radio and television in the country to broadcast the anthem both at 6:00 am and at 6:00 pm (the latter half, at various times for all free-to-air television channels), public addresses of the President of the Republic and other official events.

Lyrics

Spanish lyrics	English translation
CORO DEL HIMNO	CHORUS
¡O, gloria inmarcesible! ¡O, júbilo inmortal! En surcos de dolores, el bien germina ya. (repetir) ((Repetir todos))	Oh, unwithering glory! Oh, immortal jubilance! In furrows of pain, goodness now germinates. (Repeat) ((Repeat all))
I	I
Cesó la horrible noche. La libertad sublime derrama las auroras de su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, que entre cadenas gime, comprende las palabras del que murió en La Cruz.	The dreadful night has ceased. Sublime Liberty beams forth the dawn of her invincible light. All of humanity that groans within its chains, understands the words of He who died on the cross.
II	II
"¡Independencia!", grita el mundo americano. Se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio; "El rey no es soberano"[2] resuena, y los que sufren bendicen su pasión.	"Independence!" shouts the American world; The land of Columbus. Is bathed in heroes' blood. But this great doctrine; "The king is not the sovereign", resounds, and those who suffer bless their passion.
III	III
Del Orinoco el cauce se colma de despojos, de sangre y llanto un río se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben las almas ni los ojos, si admiración o espanto sentir o padecer.	The Orinoco's bed Is heaped with plunder, Of blood and tears A river is seen to flow. In Bárbula neither souls nor eyes, know whether admiration to feel or fear to suffer.
IV	IV
A orillas del Caribe, hambriento un pueblo lucha, horrores prefiriendo a pérfida salud. ¡Oh, sí!, de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud.	On the shores of the Caribbean, a famished people fight, preferring horror to fickle health. O, aye! from Cartagena heavy is the hardship, and death's rubble her virtue disdains
V	V
De Boyacá en los campos, el genio de la gloria, con cada espiga un héroe invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza ganaron la victoria; su varonil aliento de escudo les sirvió.	From Boyacá in the fields, the genius of glory, from every sprig a hero was crowned undefeated. Soldiers without armor won the victory; their virile spirit served them as a shield.
VI	VI
Bolívar cruza el Ande que riegan dos océanos, espadas cual centellas fulguran en Junín. Centauros indomables descienden a los llanos, y empieza a presentirse, de la epopeya el fin.	Bolívar crosses the Andes bathed by two oceans, swords as though sparks flash in Junín. Indomitable centaurs descend to the plains, and a premonition begins to be felt, of the epic's end.
VII	VII
La trompa victoriosa en Ayacucho truena, que en cada triunfo crece su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje la libertad se estrena, del cielo americano formando un pabellón.	The victorious trumpet in Ayacucho loudly thunders, as in every triumph grows its formidable sound. In its expansive thrust Liberty is first felt, from the American sky forming a pavilion.
VIII	VIII
La virgen sus cabellos arranca en agonía y de su amor viuda los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza que cubre loza fría, pero glorioso orgullo circunda su alba tez.	In agony, the Virgin Tears out her hair, and bereft of her love, leaves it to hang on a cypress. Regretting her hope covered by a cold headstone, but glorious pride hallows her fair skin.
IX	IX
La patria así se forma, termópilas brotando; constelación de cíclopes su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida mortal el viento hallando, debajo los laureles seguridad buscó.	Thus the motherland is formed, Thermopylaes bursting forth; a constellation of cyclops the night did brighten. The trembling flower finding the wind mortal, underneath the laurels safety sought.
X	X
Mas no es completa gloria vencer en la batalla, que el brazo que combate lo anima la verdad. La independencia sola el gran clamor no acalla; si el sol alumbra a todos, justicia es libertad.	But it's not complete glory to defeat in battle, the arm that fights is encouraged by truth. For independence alone The great clamour doesn't silence; if the sun shines on everyone, justice is liberty.
XI	XI
Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, el alma de la lucha profético enseñó. Ricaurte en San Mateo, en átomos volando, "Deber antes que vida," con llamas escribió.	Of men the rights Nariño's preaching, the soul of struggle was prophetically taught. Ricaurte in San Mateo, in atoms flying, "Duty before life," with flames he wrote.

Instrumental introduction lyrics

During the border conflict with Peru (1932–1934), the soldiers who defended Colombia's national sovereignty added a new verse after the trumpet fanfare. Written specifically for that time of war, it soon fell into disuse.[3] The words are:

Hoy que la madre patria se halla herida,

Hoy que debemos todos combatir, combatir,

Demos por ella nuestra vida

Que morir por la patria no es morir, es vivir

Now when the motherland is wounded,

Now when we must all fight, fight,

Let us give our life for her,

Because to die for one's country is not to die but live.

According to José Antonio Amaya,[4] elementary school students in the 1930s were taught this stanza.

The final line is very similar to a line in the national anthem of Cuba that goes, "¡Que morir por la patria es vivir!"

Usage

The anthem should be played chorus-verse-chorus. Although the first verse is usually sung between choruses, any of the eleven verses may be used. The anthem should be played chorus-verse-chorus regardless of which verse is selected. This is how it is customarily performed in all public, political, and other important events both public and private.

However, it is not uncommon for only the chorus and verse to be played without repeating the chorus. This is usually the case when brevity is sought. By law, radio and television broadcasts must play the national anthem at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, and the radio invariably uses the shorter format. The shorter anthem is also used at international events such as the Olympic Games or World Cup.

In ceremonies of the Colombian Artillery, the last verse is used instead of the first verse. The Colombian Cavalry traditionally uses the sixth verse, while the 4th verse is used by the Colombian Navy.

References

1. "Colombia". nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
2. Some versions give "El pueblo es soberano" ("People are sovereign")
3. Eduardo Galeano y Don Quijote de la Mancha
4. Tiempo, Casa Editorial El. "UNA INICIATIVA NORTESANTANDEREANA Buscan meter al general Santander en el Himno". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-04-19.

External links

• Colombia: Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia (¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!) - Audio of the national anthem of Colombia, with information and lyrics
• "Letra official del Himno de la República de Colombia"