La invención lírica de la nación : los himnos nacionales de Centroamérica

Abstract

The current versions of the national anthems of Central America were composed towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, during the years of the Liberal Reform, the socio economic modernization and, above all, the construction of a national identity. Influenced by liberal thought and positivist philosophy, the national anthem appeared as a secular foundational text, along with the national constitutions, the monuments and other emblems that make up the symbolic cultural capital of the emerging nations. Thus, by being an expression of 19th-century musical nationalism and a mythical and historical narration transmitted by the national pedagogical discourse, the national anthem is an ideological invention that constructs collective memory. This sublime and selective representation of national history promotes good citizenship, individual sacrifice and national pride. Despite being an epic and romantic discourse whose bucolic and warlike undertones could be considered anachronistic, the national anthem turns people into a unified political subject in a wide range of ceremonies such as a school parade or a football match.