National Anthem of the Dominican Republic

The national anthem of the Dominican Republic (Spanish: Himno nacional de República Dominicana), also known by its incipit Valiant Quisqueyans (Spanish: Quisqueyanos valientes), was composed by José Rufino Reyes y Siancas (1835–1905), and its lyrics were authored by Emilio Prud'Homme (1856–1932).

Himno nacional de República Dominicana

English: National Anthem of the Dominican Republic
National anthem of the Dominican Republic
Also known as	Quisqueyanos valientes (English: Valiant Quisqueyans)
Lyrics	Emilio Prud’Homme, 1882
Music	José Rufino Reyes y Siancas, 1882
Adopted	30 May 1934
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse) file help

History

José Reyes was inspired to create a national anthem for the Dominican Republic after having seen the Argentine National Anthem in the Parisian newspaper El Americano. In 1883, he invited his friend Emilio Prud'Homme to write lyrics for the anthem.

The first version of Prud'Homme's lyrics was published in the weekly newspaper El Eco de la Opinion on 16 August 1883, and the first public performance of the anthem took place the next day on 17 August in Respectable Hope Lodge No. 9 in Santo Domingo. Though the music was an instant success, several objections were made to the lyrics for having various historical inaccuracies. In 1897, Prud’Homme submitted revised lyrics, which stand to this day.

On 7 June 1897, the Congress of the Dominican Republic passed an act adopting "Himno Nacional" with the original music and revised lyrics as the country's official national anthem; however, then-President Ulises Heureaux (1846–1898) vetoed the act, because the lyric's author, Prud’Homme, was an opponent of the president and his administration. In 1899, Heureaux was assassinated, and the political disorder that ensued prevented the national anthem's legal adoption until 30 May 1934, when "Himno Nacional" was officially adopted and signed into law.

Lyric

The Spanish name of the Dominican Republic, "República Dominicana", is never used in the anthem's official Spanish lyrics, nor is the demonym for Dominicans, "dominicanos". Rather, the indigenous word for the island of Hispaniola, "Quisqueya", is used twice, and its derivative demonym, "quisqueyanos", is used once. However, research later showed that these words do not seem to derive from the original Arawak Taíno language.

In public, the national anthem is usually performed through the end of the lyric's fourth paragraph.

Spanish original

English translation

I Quisqueyanos valientes, alcemos Nuestro canto con viva emoción, Y del mundo a la faz ostentemos Nuestro invicto glorioso pendón. ¡Salve! el pueblo que, intrépido y fuerte, A la guerra a morir se lanzó, Cuando en bélico reto de muerte Sus cadenas de esclavo rompió. Ningún pueblo ser libre merece Si es esclavo indolente y servil; Si en su pecho la llama no crece Que templó el heroísmo viril, Mas Quisqueya la indómita y brava Siempre altiva la frente alzará; Que si fuere mil veces esclava Otras tantas ser libre sabrá. II Que si dolo y ardid la expusieron De un intruso señor al desdén, ¡Las Carreras! ¡Beler!, campos fueron Que cubiertos de gloria se ven. Que en la cima de heroíco baluarte De los libres el verbo encarnó, Donde el genio de Sánchez y Duarte A ser libre o morir enseñó. Y si pudo inconsulto caudillo De esas glorias el brillo empañar, De la guerra se vio en Capotillo La bandera de fuego ondear. Y el incendio que atónito deja De Castilla el soberbio león, De las playas gloriosas le aleja Donde flota el cruzado pendón. III Compatriotas, mostremos erguida Nuestra frente, orgullosos de hoy más; Que Quisqueya será destruida Pero sierva de nuevo, ¡jamás! Que es santuario de amor cada pecho Do la patria se siente vivir; Y es su escudo invencible el derecho; Y es su lema ser libre o morir. ¡Libertad! que aún se yergue serena La Victoria en su carro triunfal, Y el clarín de la guerra aún resuena Pregonando su gloria inmortal. ¡Libertad! Que los ecos se agiten Mientras llenos de noble ansiedad Nuestros campos de gloria repiten ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!

I Brave Quisqueyans, let us raise Our song with vivid emotion, And let’s show to the face of the Earth Our unconquered, glorious banner. Hail, the people who strong and intrepid, Into war launched itself set to die When in a warring challenge to the death Its chains of slavery cut off. No people deserves to be free If it’s an indolent and servile slave; If in its chest doesn't grow the flame that forged the virile heroism. But Quisqueya the brave and indomitable Always proudly her forehead will raise For if she were a thousand times a slave This many times will she be free. II And if fraud and cunning exposed her To disdain of an intrusive man, Las Carreras! Beler!...were fields Which covered in glory were seen. At the top of heroic bastion, Word of the free was materialized, Where the genius of Sanchez and Duarte Taught to be free or to die. And if an inconsiderate ruler Could tarnish the glow of such glories, The war banner of fire was seen Waving over Capotillo. And the fire that leaves stunned The arrogant lion from Castile, Pulls it away from the glorious beaches Where the crossed banner floats. III Compatriots, let’s hold our Forehead high, like never before; For Quisqueya will be destroyed But it will never again be enslaved. That every chest is a shrine of love Where one feels the homeland alive; It is the law her invincible shield; It is her motto be free or die. Liberty that serenely stands up Victory in her triumphal carriage. The trumpet of war still resounds Proclaiming her immortal glory Freedom! Let the echoes agitate While full of noble anxiety Our battlefields of glory reverb these words - Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

External links

• Ceremonial performance of the Dominican Republic's national anthem
• Vocal