Cardi, welcome back. I enjoyed the Powerpoint show and the song Salve Marinera. It would seem to be a national, even sacred, hymn that celebrates the Freedom of the Seas. It appears to be analogous to some of our patriotic songs such as God Bless America or our Marine Hymn, but can be, and is often, sung by pop stars like Diana Navarro. Do you have some background that might help us understand its significance in the Spanish culture?
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The Salve Marinera was made from a few phrases extracted from a Zarzuela (Z is pronounced th,) in the early nineteenth century called The Miller of Subiza. This song became very popular and was taken up by the Spanish Navy and other sailors.
Zarzuela is a light opera form of music that originated in Spain, it differs from the opera in which zarzuela is sung in Spanish and includes the spoken word instead of the opera sung recitatives. As a matter of fact years ago, when I first received a recording and partitura of rthe zarzuela Doña Francisquita, my then, six year old daughter and I could sing almost all the first act in Spanish without knowing a single word of the language. The music is delightful.
This hymn was dedicated to Maria Del Carmen the Patrol Saint of all sailors. Each year in every Spanish town or village on the coast they have a huge celebration and they take anyone who can get aboard the fishing vessels for a short trip to toss flowers into the sea in memory of all those who have died at sea.
I took these photos in 2002, here in Sada, on the Dia de Maria del Carmen.
I put this presentation together this morning.
HYMN TO MARIA DEL CARMEN