# National Anthem of El Salvador

The National Anthem of El Salvador (Spanish: Himno Nacional de El Salvador) was adopted on 15 September 1879 and officially approved on 11 December 1953. The lyrics were written by General Juan José Cañas in 1856, with music composed by the Italian Juan Aberle in 1879.
The composition has been likened to "William Tell Overture" by critics.

## History
### 1866 anthem

In 1866, at the initiative of doctor Francisco Dueñas, who at the time was President of the Republic, the first national anthem of El Salvador was created by Cuban doctor Tomás M. Muñoz, who wrote the lyrics, and Salvadoran musician Rafael Orozco, who composed the music. This national anthem was legally adopted through Executive Agreement of 8 October 1866, being published in the state newspaper El Constitucional No. 31, Volume 2, of 11 October 1866,$^{:pt.10,pp.7–8}$ to be officially released on 24 January 1867.
| Spanish original$^{:pt.10,pp.7–8}$$^{:31}$ | English translation |
| Coro: Libertad, Libertad es el grito Que á la Patria feliz encamina; Libertad es la estrella divina Luz de gloria del fiel Salvador. I En la Patria dichosa resuena De los libres un canto bendito: Ella nunca al estigma maldito Se rindió de la vil opresion. Contemplando gozosa en el Cielo Levantada su espléndida estrella, De la Union en la pléyade bella A los mundos dará admiracion. Coro II Resolvióse su dicha labrar Porque esclava vivir no consiente; Libertad es su timbre fulgente Libertad su bandera y honor. Y sus hijos, sus bravos soldados; Para gloria mayor de sus leyes El poder condenó de los reyes...... ¡Que es la Ley su absoluto señor! Coro III Solo encierra tu seno demócratas Dulce Patria, con solo un matiz; Tú por libre respiras feliz La Igualdad en tu suelo creció. Generoso te extiende su mano Y te llama República fuerte, Todo un Dios que te brinda la suerte Cuantos bienes la tierra creó. Coro IV Si los pueblos de América un dia Bajo el yugo de Iberia gimieron, Héroes tuvo que al fin sacudieron De su frente tan torpe baldon. Su memoria honoremos rendidos Aclamemos sus glorias y hazañas, Y resuene en las altas montañas El placer de esta libre Nacion. Coro | Chorus: Liberty, Liberty is the cry That leads to a happy country; Liberty is the divine star Light of glory of the faithful Savior. I In the blissful homeland resounds A blessed song of the free: She never, to the cursed stigma Of vile oppression, surrendered. Joyfully beholding, in Heaven Her splendid star raised, From the Union in the beautiful Pleiad She will give admiration to the worlds. Chorus II She resolved her happiness to work Because she does not consent to live a slave; Liberty is her shining stamp Liberty her flag and honour. And her children, her brave soldiers; For the greater glory of her laws She doomed the power of the kings...... Because the Law is her absolute lord! Chorus III Just enclose your bosom, democrats Sweet Fatherland, with just one nuance; You freely breathe happily Equality grew on your soil. The generous extends his hand to you And calls you a strong Republic, A true God who provides you fortune All the goods the earth created. Chorus IV If the peoples of America one day Moaned under the yoke of Iberia, Heroes had to finally shake off From their forehead such a clumsy disgrace. Let us honour their memory surrendered Let us acclaim their glories and deeds, And let resonate in the high mountains The pleasure of this free Nation. Chorus |
This anthem was sung until the overthrow of President Dueñas through a coup d'état in 1871.

### 1879 anthem

Later, in 1879, at the initiative of then president Rafael Zaldívar, the current National Anthem of El Salvador would be created by Cañas and Aberle as authors of its lyrics and music, respectively.
Through the Executive Agreement of 3 June 1891, published in the Official Gazette No. 128, Volume 30, of 3 June 1891, and General Carlos Ezeta being then president, it was legally adopted, at the initiative of Ezeta, as a new national anthem known under the official name of "El Salvador Libre", which was dedicated to the Salvadoran Armed Forces. The composition of the lyrics and music of this national anthem, which was previously officially released on 2 May 1891, was the responsibility of Italian artist Césare Georgi Vélez.
General Ezeta was overthrown in a coup d'état executed in 1894, and after his fall, the national anthem made by Cañas and Aberle was sung again in 1879, although it lacked official recognition. This situation was resolved by Legislative Decree No. 1231, of 13 November 1953, published in the Official Gazette No. 226, Volume 161, of 11 December 1953, through which the Legislative Assembly, at the request of the Salvadoran Academy of History [es], officially recognised as the national anthem of El Salvador the anthem written and composed by Cañas and Aberle, respectively, and solemnly premiered on 15 September 1879 in the esplanade of the old National Palace of El Salvador, whose civic ceremony was attended by members of the presidential cabinet of that time.$^{:42–43}$
   Immediately, and in the spacious patio of the Palace, sung by all the youth of the Colleges and schools of this Capital was the beautiful patriotic anthem composed by Mr. Juan J. Cañas and Mr. Juan Aberle, both artists of notable merit, the first of the lyrics of the anthem, and the second of the music.
   Said hymn composed for 15 September was premiered with the accompaniment of the military band and deserved general approval.$^{:pt.22,p.18}$

## Regulation

All radio and television stations must air the national anthem in accordance to the law and should be played during "Startup" and "Closedown" of every stations.

## Lyrics

The National Anthem of El Salvador is made up of a chorus and three stanzas, although the last two have not been sung for many years, as a full performance can take more than four minutes to complete. However, this custom would only obtain official recognition through Legislative Decree No. 342, of 7 October 1992, published in the Official Gazette No. 223, Volume 317, of 3 December 1992, through the which the Legislative Assembly decided to reform Article 15 of the National Symbols Law, where it was established that the execution of the national anthem must begin with the chorus and end with the first verse. However, it has become very common to only sing the chorus, which is repeated, since it is the strongest musical part of the national anthem.

### Spanish original

| Spanish original | IPA transcription | English translation |
| Coro: 𝄆 Saludemos la patria orgullosos de hijos suyos podernos llamar y juremos la vida animosos, sin descanso a su bien consagrar. 𝄇 𝄆 Consagrar, consagrar. 𝄇 I De la paz en la dicha suprema, Siempre noble soñó El Salvador; Fue obtenerla su eterno problema, Conservarla es su gloria mayor. Y con fe inquebrantable el camino Del progreso se afana en seguir (en seguir), Por llenar su grandioso destino, Conquistarse un feliz porvenir. Le protege una férrea barrera Contra el choque de ruin deslealtad, Desde el día que en su alta bandera Con su sangre escribió: ¡LIBERTAD! 𝄆 Escribió: ¡LIBERTAD! 𝄇 Coro II Libertad es su dogma, es su guía Que mil veces logró defender; Y otras tantas, de audaz tiranía Rechazar el odioso poder. Dolorosa y sangrienta es su historia, Pero excelsa y brillante a la vez (a la vez); Manantial de legítima gloria, Gran lección de espartana altivez. No desmaya en su innata bravura, En cada hombre hay un héroe inmortal Que sabrá mantenerse a la altura De su antiguo valor proverbial. 𝄆 Valor proverbial. 𝄇 Coro III Todos son abnegados, y fieles Al prestigio del bélico ardor Con que siempre segaron laureles De la patria salvando el honor. Respetar los derechos extraños Y apoyarse en la recta razón (razón) Es para ella, sin torpes amaños Su invariable, más firme ambición. Y en seguir esta línea se aferra Dedicando su esfuerzo tenaz, En hacer cruda guerra a la guerra: Su ventura se encuentra en la paz. 𝄆 Se encuentra en la paz. 𝄇 Coro | [ˈko.ɾo] 𝄆 [sa.lu.ˈðe.mos la ˈpa.tɾja‿oɾ.gu.ˈʝo.sos] [de‿ˈi.xos ˈsu.ʝos po.ˈðeɾ.noz‿ɟ͡ʝa.ˈmaɾ] [i xu.ˈɾe.mos la‿ˈβi.ð(a)‿a.ni.ˈmo.sos] [sin des.ˈkan.so‿a su‿βjen kon.sa.ˈɣɾaɾ] 𝄇 𝄆 [kon.sa.ˈɣɾaɾ kon.sa.ˈɣɾaɾ] 𝄇 1 [de la pas en la‿ˈði.t͡ʃa su.ˈpɾe.ma] [ˈsjem.pɾe ˈno.βle so.ˈɲo‿el sal.βa.ˈðoɾ] [fwe oβ.te.ˈneɾ.la su e.ˈteɾ.no pɾo.ˈβle.ma] [kon.seɾ.ˈβaɾ.la‿es su‿ˈɣlo.ɾja ma.ˈʝoɾ] [i kon fe‿iŋ.ke.βɾan.ˈta.βle‿el ka.ˈmi.no] [del pɾo.ˈɣɾe.so se‿a.fa.ˈna‿en se.ˈɣiɾ] [poɾ ɟ͡ʝe.ˈnaɾ su‿ɣɾan.ˈdjo.so‿ðes.ˈti.no] [koŋ.kis.ˈtaɾ.se‿un fe.ˈlis poɾ.ve.ˈniɾ] [le pɾo.ˈte.xe‿ˈu.na ˈfe.re.a‿βa.ˈre.ɾa] [ˈkon.tɾa‿el ˈt͡ʃo.ke‿ðe ˈrwin dez.le.al.ˈtað] [ˈdez.ðe‿el ˈdi.a ke‿en su‿ˈal.ta‿βan.ˈde.ɾa] [kon su ˈsaŋ.gɾe‿es.kɾi.ˈβjo ǀ li.βeɾ.ˈtað ǁ] 𝄆 [es.kɾi.ˈβjo ǀ li.βeɾ.ˈtað ǁ] 𝄇 [ˈko.ɾo] 2 [li.βeɾ.ˈtað es su‿ˈðoɣ.ma‿es su ˈɣi.a] [ke mil‿ˈβe.ses lo.ˈɣɾo‿ðe.fen.ˈdeɾ] [i‿ˈo.tɾas ˈtan.tas ǀ de‿au̯.ˈðas ti.ɾa.ˈni.a] [re.t͡ʃa.saɾ el o.ˈðjo.so po.ˈðeɾ] [do.lo.ˈɾo.sa‿i saŋ.ˈgɾjen.ta‿es su‿ˈis.to.ɾja] [ˈpe.ɾo‿eɣ.ˈsel.sa‿i‿βɾi.ˈʝan.te‿a la‿βes] [ma.nan.ˈtjal de le.ˈxi.ti.maˈˈɣlo.ɾja] [gɾan lek.ˈsjon de‿es.paɾ.ˈta.na‿al.ti.βes] [noˈðez.ˈma.ʝa‿en su‿in.ˈna.taˈβɾa.ˈvu.ɾa] [en ˈka.ða‿ˈom.bɾe‿ai̯‿un ˈe.ɾo.e‿im.moɾ.ˈtal] [ke sa.ˈβɾa man.te.ˈneɾ.se‿a la‿ˈal.tu.ɾa] [de suˈan.ˈti.ɣwoˈβa.ˈloɾ pɾo.βeɾ.ˈβjal] [ba.ˈloɾ pɾo.βeɾ.ˈβjal] [ˈko.ɾo] 3 [ˈto.ðos son aβ.na.ˈɣa.ðos i ˈfje.les] [al pɾes.ˈti.xjo‿ðel‿ˈβe.li.ko‿aɾ.ˈðoɾ] [kon ke ˈsjem.pɾe se.ɣa.ˈɾon lau̯.ˈɾe.les] [de la ˈpa.tɾja sal.ˈβan.do‿el o.ˈnoɾ] [res.pe.ˈtaɾ loz‿ðe.ˈɾe.t͡ʃos eɣs.ˈtɾa.ɲos] [i‿a.po.ˈʝaɾ.se‿en la ˈɾek.ta ɾa.ˈson] [es ˈpa.ɾa‿ˈe.ʝa sin ˈtoɾ.pes a.ˈma.ɲos] [su‿im.ba.ˈɾja.βle mas ˈfiɾ.me‿am.bi.ˈsjon] [i‿en se.ˈɣiɾ ˈes.ta ˈli.ne.a se‿a.ˈfe.ra] [de.ði.ˈkan.do su‿es.ˈfweɾ.so te.ˈnas] [en a.ˈseɾ ˈkɾu.ða‿ˈɣe.ra‿a la‿ˈɣe.ra] [su‿βen.ˈtu.ɾa se‿eŋ.ˈkwen.tɾa‿en la pas] [se‿eŋ.ˈkwen.tɾa‿en la pas] [ˈko.ɾo] | Chorus: 𝄆 Let us salute the fatherland, proud Of being able to be called its children And let us swear our life, spirited, To consecrate its good without rest. 𝄇 𝄆 Consecrate, consecrate. 𝄇 I Of peace in supreme bliss, Always noble El Salvador dreamt; Obtaining it was her eternal challenge, Keeping it is her greatest glory. And with unwavering faith, the path Of progress, she strives to follow (to follow), To fulfil her grand destiny, Conquer a happy future. An iron barrier protects her Against the clash of vile disloyalty, Since the day that on her high flag With her blood she wrote "LIBERTY!" 𝄆 She wrote "LIBERTY!" 𝄇 Chorus II Liberty is her dogma, is her guide That she managed to defend a thousand times; And as many times, audacious tyranny's Hateful power, to repel. Painful and bloody is her story, But lofty and brilliant at the same time (at the same time); A source of legitimate glory, A great lesson of Spartan pride. Her innate bravery does not waver, In each man there is an immortal hero Who will know how to keep to the merit Of its ancient proverbial value. 𝄆 Proverbial value. 𝄇 Chorus III All are selfless, and faithful To the prestige of warlike ardour With which they always reaped glories Saving the honour of the fatherland. To respect the rights of others And base herself on just reason (reason) Is for her, without dishonest tricks, Her invariable, firmest ambition. And in following this line she persists Dedicating her tenacious effort, In waging harsh war on war: Her fortune is found in peace. 𝄆 Is found in peace. 𝄇 Chorus |

### In Nawat

On 1 September 2009, during the inauguration of Civic Month in Suchitoto, Cuscatlán, the National Anthem was performed in Nawat by the Doctor Mario Calvo Marroquín School Centre Choir from Izalco, Sonsonate. The name of the national anthem in Nawat is Takwikalis Tutal, meaning "Song to Our Land".
| Nawat original | IPA transcription |
| Coro: 𝄆 Tajpalulikan ka tupal ne tal Ipijpilawan tiwelit tukaytiyat Wan kitalikan ne tiyultiwit Te musewiyat pal welit tikpiyate. 𝄇 𝄆 Tikpiyate, tikpiyate. 𝄇 I Timunekit pal tiwelit tinemit Sejsenpatimikwit ne takushkatan palkwi Ka kipiak ka te akaj kinekik Ka kichiwki achta nemit achtu nemi. Wan tay inak te mukwepki tik ne ujti Pal kipiate keman musewij (musewij) Pal kitema se tumak tiawit kipiat Kiputzawase ipal ya nemi Kipalewki se ketzal tet. Kitat munami kaj te muneki Keman ne tunal ku tik ne ajku panti Wan yesyu tawawasuj tamakichti, 𝄆 Tawawasuj tamakichti, 𝄇 | [[ko.ro] 𝄆 [tah.pa.lu.li.kaŋ ka tu.pal ne tal] [i.pih.pi.la.wan ti.we.lit tu.kaj.ti.jat] [waŋ ki.ta.li.kan ne ti.jul.ti.wit] [te mu.se.wi.jat pal we.lit tik.pi.ja(.)t(eʔ)] 𝄇 𝄆 [tik.pi.ja(.)t(eʔ) tik.pi.ja(.)t(eʔ)] 𝄇 1 [ti.mu.ne.kit pal ti.we.lit ti.ne.mit] [seh.sen.pa.ti.mi.kʷit ne ta.kuʃ.ka.tan pal.kʷiʔ] [ka ki.pi(.)ak ka te a.kah ki.ne.kik] [ka ki.t͡ʃiw.ki at͡ʃ.ta ne.mit t͡ʃ.tu ne.miʔ] [wan taj i.nak te mu.kʷep.ki tik ne uh.tiʔ] [pal ki.pja.te ke.man mu.se.wi mu.se.wih] [pal ki.te.ma se tu.mak tʲwit ki.pjat] [ki.pu.t͡sa.wa.se i.pal ya ne.miʔ] [ki.pa.lew.ki se ke.t͡sal tet] [ki.tat mu.na.mi kaj te mu.ne.kiʔ] [ke.man ne tu.nal ku tik ne ah.ku pan.tiʔ] [wan jes.ju ta.wa.wa.suh ta.ma(.)k(i)t͡ʃ.t(i)ʔ] 𝄆 [ta.wa.wa.suh ta.ma(.)k(i)t͡ʃ.t(i)ʔ] 𝄇] |