During the Imperial period (1822-1889) and in the early years of the Republic, the national anthem was usually performed with no lyrics.
When the Republic was proclaimed, the 'Hymn to the Proclamation of the Republic' was composed and adopted as one of Brazil's official patriotic songs, equivalent in status to the 'Hymn to Independence' and to the 'Hymn to the Flag' of more recent composition.
Several republicans suggested that the newly composed anthem commemorating the proclamation of the Republic should replace the music composed upon the foundation of the Empire, but Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, head of the Provisional Government of the Republic, expressed his preference for the traditional anthem. As a consequence, he confirmed the music by Francisco Manoel da Silva as the national anthem by Decree 171 issued on January 20, 1890.
The problem remained that the national anthem had no definitive lyrics, and several texts were proposed for adoption. Matters were even worse because in the early 20th century the anthem was sung to a different text in each Brazilian state. This led congressman Coelho Neto to propose in 1906 that one single text be assigned as the official lyrics of the anthem. The proposition bore fruit only sixteen years later, in 1922, the centennial year of Brazilian independence, when Congress passed a bill, signed into law by President Epitácio Pessoa, declaring the poem composed in 1909 by Osório Duque Estrada, after several improvements were made, as the official text of the Brazilian national anthem.
Lyrics
The song consists of two consecutive choruses. Brazilian law stipulates that only one chorus must be played in instrumental renditions of the anthem, but both must be sung in vocal performances. The second chorus is thus often dropped when played at sporting events, as the players are not facing a mic when singing.| Hino Nacional Brasileiro (Portuguese lyrics) | Brazilian National Anthem |
|---|---|
| First chorus | |
|
Ouviram do Ipiranga as margens plácidas De um povo heróico o brado retumbante, E o sol da Liberdade, em raios fúlgidos, Brilhou no céu da Pátria nesse instante. Se o penhor dessa igualdade Conseguimos conquistar com braço forte, Em teu seio, ó Liberdade, Desafia o nosso peito a própria morte! Ó Pátria amada, Idolatrada, Salve! Salve! Brasil, um sonho intenso, um raio vívido, De amor e de esperança à terra desce, Se em teu formoso céu, risonho e límpido, A imagem do Cruzeiro resplandece. Gigante pela própria natureza, És belo, és forte, impávido colosso, E o teu futuro espelha essa grandeza. Terra adorada Entre outras mil És tu, Brasil, Ó Pátria amada! Dos filhos deste solo És mãe gentil, Pátria amada, Brasil! |
The placid banks of the Ipiranga (river) heard the resounding cry of a heroic people and brilliant beams from the sun of liberty shone in our homeland's skies at that very moment. If we have fulfilled the promise of equality by our mighty arms, in thy bosom, O freedom, our brave breast shall defy death itself! O beloved, idolized homeland, Hail, hail! Brazil, an intense dream, a vivid ray of love and hope descends to earth if in thy lovely, smiling and clear skies the image of the (Southern) Cross shines resplendently. A giant by thine own nature, thou art a beautiful, strong and intrepid colossus, and thy future mirrors thy greatness. Beloved Land amongst a thousand others art thou, Brazil, O beloved homeland! To the sons of this land thou art a gentle mother, beloved homeland, Brazil! |
| Second chorus | |
|
Deitado eternamente em berço esplêndido, Ao som do mar e à luz do céu profundo, Fulguras, ó Brasil, florão da América, Iluminado ao sol do Novo Mundo! Do que a terra mais garrida Teus risonhos, lindos campos têm mais flores, "Nossos bosques têm mais vida", "Nossa vida" no teu seio "mais amores". (*) Ó Pátria amada, Idolatrada, Salve! Salve! Brasil, de amor eterno seja símbolo O lábaro que ostentas estrelado, E diga o verde-louro dessa flâmula - Paz no futuro e glória no passado. Mas se ergues da justiça a clava forte, Verás que um filho teu não foge à luta, Nem teme, quem te adora, a própria morte. Terra adorada Entre outras mil És tu, Brasil, Ó Pátria amada! Dos filhos deste solo És mãe gentil, Pátria amada, Brasil! |
Eternally lying in a splendid cradle, by the sound of the sea and the light of the deep sky, thou shinest, O Brazil, garland of America, illuminated by the sun of the New World! Thy smiling, lovely fields have more flowers than the most elegant land abroad, "Our woods have more life", "our life" in thy bosom "more love". (*) O beloved, idolized homeland, Hail, hail! Brazil, let the star-spangled banner thou showest forth be the symbol of eternal love, and let the laurel-green of thy pennant proclaim 'Peace in the future and glory in the past.' But if thou raisest the strong gavel of Justice, thou wilt see that a son of thine flees not from battle, nor does he who loves thee fear death itself. Beloved Land, amongst a thousand others art thou, Brazil, O beloved homeland! To the sons of this land thou art a gentle mother, beloved homeland, Brazil! |
(*) The passages in quotation marks were extracted from Gonçalves Dias' poem Exile Song (Canção do Exílio).
Media
See also
- Brazilian Flag Anthem (Hino à Bandeira)
- Brazilian Anthem of Independence (Hino da Independência)
- Brazilian Republic Anthem (Portuguese: Hino da Proclamação da República)
External links
- MP3 version of Brazil National Anthem, instrumental and vocal both
- Other patriotic songs - Brazilian Government portal website
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Last updated on Monday July 07, 2008 at 06:25:50 PDT (GMT -0700)
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