The freedom, struggle and bloodshed of the heroes during the events of August 10, 1809 and May 24, 1822 are captured in the form of music in the national anthem of Ecuador, which commemorates its 75th anniversary on November 26. Its official has become the country’s song.

At which events should the national anthem of Ecuador be sung?

With text by Ambateño Juan Leon Mera Martínez and French music Antonio Neumane Marno, This national melody accompanies compatriots at important moments in their lives: civic events, changes of command, football matches, and how can we forget that this was the first thing sung every Monday in educational institutions.

Many undoubtedly grew up hearing that Ecuador’s national anthem was, and was, the second most beautiful anthem in the world The Marsellesa from France was the first. But this is nothing more than a legend that someone decided to spread in honor of patriotism.

Jorge Saadedirector of the Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra of Guayaquil, indicates that he does not know ranking world that determines which national anthem is better than the other as it relates to the sense of patriotism of every citizen. “It is, together with the flag and shield, the greatest symbol of a country’s nationalism.” mentions.

For him, who is of Lebanese descent, Ecuador’s national anthem is the most beautiful thing he has ever heard. Although he doesn’t play it in his concerts, he remembers the time he made a virtuoso version on his violin. He describes it as a war piece. “Our national anthem is poetic and tells about the people’s struggle for their liberation. It is a very beautiful letter. The anthem identifies you when you are happy, in triumph, in happiness, success, and it identifies you in disaster, in war, in failure.” says the musician who adds: “Ecuador’s national anthem reminds me of where I come from and where I come from.”

On September 29, 1948 it was declared the official and intangible national anthem. by the National Congress during the government of Galo Plaza Lasso, and on November 23 of the same year the said letter was published. In 1965, the military government junta declared November 26 as an official commemoration day by executive order.

Only the chorus and second verse are sung, but the original piece consists of six verses and a chorus. Why isn’t the national anthem sung in full? On March 11, 1977, the Supreme Court of the Government ordered by decree that the singing of the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth stanzas of the piece should be prohibited. This is to encourage Ecuadorians to sing it correctly.

Which verses of the national anthem are sung?

The composer and teacher Omar Dominguez He highlights the work Neumane did on the melody, which he said demonstrated his mastery of academic music technical knowledge. “The beautiful musical introduction that Neumane has created for our national anthem fits perfectly with the beginning of the song, because for me it is the musical part of the work that I enjoy most during its performance”he emphasizes.

He believes that his contribution was an ideal addition that strengthened Mera’s texts. “It perfectly conveys the desired feeling, elevates the lyrics, accompanied by different musical environments created by creative chord cadences”.

The conductor of the orchestra David Harutyunyan mentions that the anthem was composed at a time when the European music world was strongly influenced by Italian opera. “It was fashionable. Italian composers such as Luigi Cherubini, Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini were very famous and popular composers throughout Europe and also in Latin America. It is clear that Antonio Neumane, like many young musicians at the beginning of the 19th century, felt their influence, without saying that he was married to the Italian singer Idalide Turri,” contextualizes the Armenian musician.

It is for this reason that explains that the Ecuadorian national anthem contains some elements of Italian opera. “It is very melodious, with very beautiful harmony and easy to remember, which is very necessary for a national anthem that should become the most important music of a nation. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful hymns in the world”.

He describes his lyrics as emotional, hopeful and with a strong transmission of love and pride for the country. “I had to perform the national anthem in public several times, before the presidents of Ecuador (since 2002), presidents of other countries, the Ecuadorian authorities and the general public. For me and I am sure for all musicians it is a great honor to encounter this beautiful and very valuable melody every time.”he states.

Was there still a national anthem in Ecuador?

Before the current anthem we know, there were several proposals that tried to position themselves as the official anthem, without any success. The first took place in 1830 when the then president, Juan José Flores, commissioned the poet José Joaquín Olmedo to write a national anthem for the country that he would publish in 1834.

The first stanza read:

“Let us greet the dawn of the day / for Quito the immortal glory, / in which the bold Pichincha, the first, / proclaimed freedom, freedom.”

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Despite taking up the liberation struggle, this hymn did not receive the expected reception from the public, so Flores decided to write another one which read in the first stanza:

“Girded with laurels / let us sound / independence and laws; / peace and freedom; / and in war and peace / independence or death. / Or death! / or freedom!”

But according to the Encyclopedia of Ecuador, This national anthem was also not accepted by the Ecuadorians.

So asked Dr. Nicolás Espinoza Rivadeneira, then President of the Senate Chamber, asked Mera in 1865 to write a patriotic song worthy of being considered the national anthem of Ecuador.

“Mera accepted it willingly, and history tells that on the night of November 15, 1865, he wrote the beautiful text of our national anthem, which, subject to the knowledge of the National Congress, was unanimously accepted and approved,” he writes. Galo S. Román in the book Ecuador: sovereign nation, as collected Ecuador Encyclopedia.

After an Argentinian violinist’s score was rejected, the lyrics were sent to the composer Antonio Neumane, who, in his home in the Las Peñas neighborhood (now Estudio Paulsen), created the music for what we know today as our national anthem. This composition was accepted by Congress in 1869. (I)