El gran Carlemany

"Template:Lang" (Template:IPA; "The Great Charlemagne") is the national anthem of the Principality of Andorra. Enric Marfany Bons composed the music, while the lyrics were authored by Joan Benlloch i Vivó, written in a first-person narrative from the point of view of Andorra. It was adopted as the national anthem on 8 September 1921, which is also the national day of Andorra. The lyrics make reference to several key aspects of Andorran culture and history, such as the heritage of the Carolingian Empire.

History

"El Gran Carlemany" was composed by Enric Marfany Bons (1871–1942),<ref name="Maugendre1996">Template:Cite book</ref> who was a priest.<ref name=Augustin>Augustin (2008), p. 99.</ref> The lyrics to the song were penned by Juan Benlloch i Vivó (1864–1926), who served as the Bishop of Urgell from 1906 to 1919. This position also made him an ex officio Co–Prince of Andorra.<ref name=Augustin/><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Subscription required</ref> The song was officially designated as the country's national anthem on 8 September 1921,<ref name=CIA>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> when it was sung at the country's cathedral for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The day it was adopted – 8 September<ref name=Augustin/> – is the National Day of Andorra. This coincides with the feast day of Our Lady of Meritxell, the country's patron saint, who is mentioned in the lyrics.<ref name=CIA/>

Lyrics

The lyrics of "El Gran Carlemany" give a short account of Andorra's history "in a first-person narrative".<ref name=CIA/> It recounts the traditional Andorran legend that Charlemagne reconquered the region from the Moors between 788<ref name=Geyer>Template:Cite journal</ref> and 790, after the Catalan people had guided his army through the rugged valleys, which Charlemagne compensated with granting Andorra its independence,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and its first borders were delineated that same year.<ref name=Geyer/> It formed part of the Marca Hispanica, a buffer zone formed by Charlemagne in order to protect his state (the Carolingian Empire).<ref name=Shelley>Template:Cite book</ref> According to legend, he was responsible for restructuring the country, reintroducing Christianity to its people and overseeing the construction of monasteries. Because of these accomplishments, he was given "a mythical aura" and is regarded as the founder of Andorra.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The hymn begins with "Template:Lang" ("Great Charlemagne my father")<ref name="GroupSachs1984">Template:Cite book</ref> and memorialises this view and celebrates the country's status as "the only remaining daughter of the Carolingian empire",<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> since it is the only remnant of the Marca Hispanica.<ref name="Shelley" />

Catalan original<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	North-Western Catalan IPATemplate:Efn	Spanish translation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	French translation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	English translation
<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:IPA</poem>	<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>Template:Lang</poem>	<poem>The great Charlemagne, my father, liberated me from the Saracens, and from heaven he gave me life of Meritxell, the great Mother. I was born a princess and heiress between two nations, neutral; I am the only remaining daughter of the Carolingian empire. Faithful and free for eleven centuries, Faithful and free I want to be. May the laws be my tutors 𝄆 and my Princes defenders! 𝄇</poem>

External links

• Recording by the New Japan Philharmonic (former linked source stale.)