National Anthem Tradition

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Lore & Background

The earliest national song of Buenos Aires was a 'Patriotic March' published on 15 November 1810. In mid-1812, the ruling triumvirate ordered a national anthem; Cayetano Rodríguez wrote a text approved on 4 August, set to music by Blas Parera, premiered on 1 November. The Assembly of Year XIII deemed it ineffective, and on 6 March 1813 poets were invited to submit lyrics. Vicente López y Planes' poem was chosen, designated the 'sole national march' on 11 May 1813. Parera composed new music; an unconfirmed tradition says the premiere took place on 14 May 1813 at Mariquita Sánchez's home. The official premiere was on 28 May. The anthem was known as 'National Patriotic Song' and later 'Patriotic Song'; the title 'Himno Nacional Argentino' first appeared on a manuscript around 1848. Juan Pedro Esnaola produced an official revised version in 1860. In 1927 a committee produced a revisionist version that was rejected; Esnaola's edition was reinstated and confirmed as official in 1944. President Julio Argentino Roca abridged the text by decree on 30 March 1900.

In Their Own Story

As the anthem evolved, its full length became impractical for modern gatherings. Throughout the 19th century, it was sung in its entirety across Argentina and neighboring nations like Chile, Peru, and Colombia. However, by 1900, with Spanish immigrants settling in the country and diplomatic tensions easing, President Julio Argentino Roca issued a decree on March 30 to alter official performances. The decree mandated that only the first verse, the last verse, and the chorus be sung at public parties and schools, omitting the emotional middle sections about independence struggles. This version was codified in 1944 following musical debates. In 1860, Juan Pedro Esnaola had already reshaped the music with a slower tempo and fuller harmony; although a 1927 committee tried to undo his work, public backlash reinstated his arrangement as the official standard. Today, at international sporting events like the Olympics or World Cup, an even shorter instrumental introduction of about one minute is played, though this abridged version is not recognized by Argentine law.

Reader's Guide

Performance of the national anthem is mandatory during all official events, and Argentines in attendance are expected to stand up and sing it. Radio broadcasters voluntarily perform the anthem at midnight, while TV channels do so before closing down their daily broadcast. On national holidays, it is mandatory to perform the national anthem at midnight. The national anthem is ruled by Decree 10302/1944. During international sporting events, only the instrumental introduction (around 1 minute) is played, or the instrumental introduction followed by the last three lines. Since 2019, in professional soccer games, the final part is played. These arrangements are not recognized by Argentine law.

Did You Know?

• The anthem includes a line that has given rise to controversy: a manuscript uses the word 'opone' (opposes) while a later version changed it to 'se pone' (positions itself), reversing the meaning.
• The original lyrics reference events in Mexico, Central America, Northern South America, and Charcas, going beyond the Argentine theater of the wars of independence.
• Rock musician Charly García broke legal regulations when he included a cover version of the anthem in his 1990 album.
• A line from the original version was used as the Argentine title of the 1928 film 'The Charge of the Gauchos'.
• The national anthem appears at the beginning of the 1985 film 'The Official Story'.

Origins and Evolution

The anthem's history is marked by rapid evolution from its first iteration on November 15, 1810. The original "Patriotic March" by Esteban de Luca and Blas Parera discussed European conflicts rather than Argentine independence. In mid-1812, the ruling triumvirate commissioned a new text from Cayetano Rodríguez, performed on November 1, but it was discarded less than a year later. On March 6, 1813, poets were asked to submit lyrics; Vicente López y Planes' poem won unanimously. It was approved as the "sole national march" on May 11, 1813. Parera composed the music quickly, with the song sheet dated May 14 and an official premiere at a theater on May 28, where he was paid 200 pesos.

Lyrical Content and Political Context

Originally named "Marcha Patriótica," the anthem's title changed to "Canción Patriótica Nacional" and later "Canción Patriótica." It became known as "Himno Nacional Argentino" upon publication in 1847. The lyrics by López y Planes were ardently pro-independence, referencing events beyond Argentina to include Mexico, Central America, Northern South America, and Upper Peru. A controversial line regarding Buenos Aires originally used the word "opone" (opposes) in early manuscripts, later corrected to "pone" (positions), reversing the meaning from opposition to leadership. As anti-Spanish sentiment faded and Spanish immigration grew, President Julio Argentino Roca decreed on March 30, 1900, that only the first verse, last verse, and chorus be sung in official settings to avoid offending new residents.

Musical Arrangements and Standardization

Musical inconsistencies led to reforms. In 1860, Juan Pedro Esnaola created an official version with a slower tempo and richer harmony. A 1927 historicist committee attempted to revert some of Esnaola's changes but faced public rejection after debates fueled by the newspaper La Prensa. Consequently, Esnaola's arrangement was reinstated and confirmed as the state anthem in 1944 via Decree 10302/1944. Today, short instrumental versions are used at international events like the Rugby World Cup and Olympics, often lasting around one minute or including just the chorus, though these specific sporting arrangements are not recognized by Argentine law.

Cultural Significance and Controversies

May 11 is celebrated as Argentine National Anthem Day (Día del Himno Nacional Argentino). The anthem has faced controversy over text interpretation, such as the "opone" vs. "pone" debate, and its broad Latin American references rather than solely Argentine ones. Its usage is strictly regulated: mandatory at official events with attendees expected to stand and sing. While traditionalists adhere to the 1900 decree for official functions, modern adaptations appear in media and music, such as Charly García's controversial 1990 cover on "Filosofía barata y zapatos de goma" or the 1985 film "The Official Story," which opens with the anthem.