Els Segadors

Els Segadors

English: The Reapers
National anthem of Catalonia
Lyrics	Emili Guanyavents, 1899
Music	Francesc Alió, 1892
Adopted	1899 (de facto) 25 February 1993 (de jure)
Audio sample
Official orchestral and choral vocal recording file help

"Els Segadors" (Eastern Catalan: [əls səɣəˈðos], Western Catalan: [els seɣaˈðos]; "The Reapers") is the official national anthem of Catalonia, nationality and autonomous community of Spain.

History

The Reapers' War "Corpus de Sang" (1640). Painted in 1910

Left: Francesc Alió, composer of the music. Right: Emili Guanyavents, author of the modern lyrics

The original song dates in the oral tradition to 1640, based on the events of June 1640 known as Corpus de Sang ("Corpus of Blood") during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Spain, England, France and Austria, the event that started the Reapers' War or Guerra dels Segadors, also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution, where Catalans fought against the Count-Duke of Olivares, the chief minister of King Philip IV of Spain, and eventually led to an open war and the establishment of a Catalan Republic under French protection.

The song describes the events, an uprising of peasants due to the large and burdensome presence of the Spanish Royal army in the Principality of Catalonia, as they were required to lodge and provision the troops, thus leading to a large tension and discomfort and the outbreak of episodes such as religious sacrileges, destruction of personal properties, and rape of women by the soldiers. The second part of the song tells the arrival of the rebel reapers in Barcelona, who kill various guards, the royal officers and the viceroy of Catalonia, Dalmau de Queralt, ending with the exhortation to Catalans to take the arms, as they are at war.

In the 19th century, the text was compiled in the Romancillero Catalán, a book of folk traditions written by Manuel Milà i Fontanals. The music was standardized by Francesc Alió in 1892. Its modern lyrics were written by Emili Guanyavents, who won a competition convened by the political party Unió Catalanista in 1899, simplifying the text to three verses. At the time, the change of lyrics caused some controversy among conservative elements, as Guanyavents, coming from sectors close to anarchism, gave them a revolutionary tone.

Throughout the first quarter of the 20th century, "Els Segadors" became one of the most relevant symbols of Catalanism and Catalonia itself, consolidating its popularity during the Second Spanish Republic and the Civil War. Despite an early attempt of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan autonomous government) in 1931 to replace it with another song, "El Cant del Poble", "Els Segadors" remained highly popular, assumed by both Catalan government and population as the de facto national anthem. The dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939–1975) banned the public use of Catalan national symbolism as part of the broad anti-Catalanist policies, among them "Els Segadors". Tolerated songs, such as the "Virolai" or "La Santa Espina", were often played in its place to express Catalan identity, generally in folkloric contexts. The death of the dictator and the transition towards a democratic system allowed its public use again.

After decades being use de facto, often alongside the "Cant de la Senyera", the Catalan government officially adopted "Els Segadors" as the national anthem of Catalonia on 25 February 1993, by law of the Catalan parliament. The official version was recorded in 1994. The new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006 confirms this decision by its article 8.4, in which is explicitly defined as a national symbol of Catalonia, alongside the National Day and the flag.

Lyrics

Modern lyrics

Catalan original (official)	Central Catalan (Eastern) IPA	North-Western Catalan (Western) IPA	English translation	Occitan translation	Spanish translation
I Catalunya triomfant, tornarà a ser rica i plena. Endarrere aquesta gent tan ufana i tan superba. Tornada: Bon cop de falç! Bon cop de falç, defensors de la terra! Bon cop de falç! II Ara és hora, segadors. Ara és hora d'estar alerta. Per quan vingui un altre juny, esmolem ben bé les eines. Tornada III Que tremoli l'enemic, en veient la nostra ensenya. Com fem caure espigues d'or, quan convé seguem cadenes. Tornada	1 [kə.t̪ə.ˈɫu.ɲə tɾi.uɱ.ˈfän] [t̪uɾ.nə.ˈrä‿(ə) se ˈri.kə‿i ˈpɫɛ.nə] [ən̪.də.ˈre.ɾ‿ə.ˈkɛs.t̪ə ˈʒen] [t̪än u.ˈfä.nə‿i t̪an su.ˈpɛɾ.β̞ə] [t̪uɾ.ˈna.ð̞ə] [bɔŋ‿kɔp də faɫs] [bɔŋ‿kɔp də faɫs‿ð̞ə.fən.'soz‿ð̞ə ɫə ˈt̪ɛ.rə] [bɔŋ‿kɔp də faɫs] 2 [ˈä.ɾ(ə)‿ez‿ˈɔ.ɾə sə.ɣ̞ə.ˈð̞os] [ˈä.ɾ(ə)‿ez‿ˈɔ.ɾə ð̞əs.ˈt̪ä‿(ə).ˈɫɛɾ.t̪ə] [pəɾ kwäm‿ˈbiŋ.ɡi‿un ˈäɫ̪.t̪ɾə ʒuɲ] [əz.mu.ˈɫɛm‿bem‿be ɫəz‿ˈɛi̯.nəs] [t̪uɾ.ˈna.ð̞ə] 3 [kə t̪ɾə.ˈmɔ.ɫi ɫə.nə.ˈmik] [əm‿bə.ˈjen ɫə ˈnɔs.t̪ɾə‿n.ˈsɛ.ɲə] [kɔɱ‿fem ˈkäw.ɾə‿s.ˈpi.ɣ̞əz‿ð̞ɔr] [kwäŋ‿kum.ˈbe sə.ˈɣ̞ɛm kə.ˈð̞ɛ.nəs] [tuɾ.ˈna.ð̞ə]	1 [ka.t̪a.ˈɫu.ɲa tɾi.uɱ.ˈfän] [t̪oɾ.na.ˈrä‿(a) se ˈri.ka‿i ˈpɫe.na, -ne] [an̪.da.ˈre.ɾ‿a.ˈkes.t̪a ˈʒen] [t̪än u.ˈfä.na‿i t̪an su.ˈpɛɾ.β̞a] [t̪oɾ.ˈna.ð̞a] [bɔŋ‿kɔp de faɫs] [bɔŋ‿kɔp de faɫs‿ð̞e.fen.'soz‿ð̞e ɫa ˈt̪ε.ra, -rɛ] [bɔŋ‿kɔp de faɫs] 2 [ˈä.ɾ(a)‿ez‿ˈɔ.ɾa se.ɣ̞a.ˈð̞os] [ˈä.ɾ(a)‿ez‿ˈɔ.ɾa ð̞es.ˈt̪ä‿(a).ˈɫɛɾ.t̪a, -t̪ɛ] [peɾ kwäm‿ˈbiŋ.ɡi‿un ˈäɫ̪.t̪ɾe ʒuɲ] [ez.mo.ˈɫem‿bem‿be ɫez‿ˈei̯.nes] [t̪oɾ.ˈna.ð̞a] 3 [ke t̪ɾe.ˈmɔ.ɫi ɫe.ne.ˈmik] [em‿be.ˈjen ɫa ˈnɔs.t̪ɾe‿n.ˈse.ɲa, -ɲe] [kɔɱ‿fem ˈkäw.ɾe‿s.ˈpi.ɣ̞ez‿ð̞ɔr] [kwäŋ‿kom.ˈbe se.ˈɣ̞em ka.ˈð̞e.nes] [t̪oɾ.ˈna.ð̞a]	I Catalonia triumphant Shall again be rich and abundant. Drive away these folks Who are so proud and arrogant. Chorus: Strike with your sickle! Strike with your sickle, defenders of the land! Strike with your sickle! II Now is the time, reapers, Now is the time to stand wise. Let us sharpen well our means, For when another June comes. Chorus III May the enemy tremble Upon seeing our symbol. Just as we cut the wheat's golden ears, When time calls, we sever the chains. Chorus	I Catalonha triomfant, tornarà èsser rica e plena. Endarrièra aquelas gents amb tan d'ufan e supèrba. Arrepic: Bon còp de fauç! Bon còp de fauç, Defensors de la tèrra! Bon còp de fauç! II Ara es l'ora, segadors. Ara es l'ora sètz a l'espèra. Per quand vendrà un autre junh amolam plan ben las asinas. Arrepic III Que tremòle l'enemic en vesent la nòstra ensenha. Coma dalham espigas d'aur, quand nos cal segam cadenas. Arrepic	I Cataluña, triunfante, ¡volverá a ser rica y plena! ¡Atrás esta gente tan ufana y tan soberbia! Estribillo: ¡Buen golpe de hoz! ¡Buen golpe de hoz, defensores de la tierra! ¡Buen golpe de hoz! II ¡Ahora es hora, segadores! ¡Ahora es hora de estar alerta! Para cuando venga otro junio ¡afilemos bien las herramientas! Estribillo III Que tiemble el enemigo al ver nuestra enseña: como hacemos caer espigas de oro, cuando conviene segamos cadenas. Estribillo

Original lyrics: pre-1899

Catalan original	English translation	Spanish translation
I Ai ditxosa Catalunya qui t'ha vista rica i plena! Ara el rei nostre senyor declarada ens té la guerra. II Lo gran comte d'Olivar sempre li burxa l'aurella: “Ara és hora, nostre rei, ara és hora que fem guerra”. III Contra de los catalans ja ho vegeu quina n'han feta: seguiren viles i llocs fins al lloc de Riudarenes, IV n'han cremada una església que Santa Coloma es deia, cremen albes i casulles los calzes i les patenes. V I el Santíssim Sagrament alabat sigui per sempre. Mataren un sacerdot mentres que la missa deia. VI Mataren un cavaller a la porta de l'iglésia, Don Lluís de Furrià i els àngels li fan gran festa. VII El pa que no era blanc deien que era massa negre, lo daven an els cavalls sols per assolar la terra. VIII Lo vi que no era bo etgegaven les aixetes, lo tiraven pels carrers sols per a regar la terra. IX A presència dels seus pares deshonraven les donzelles. En daven part al virrei del mal que aquells soldats feien: X “Llicència els he donat io molta més se'n poden pendre”. XI A vista de tot això s'és esvalotat la terra. Entraren a Barcelona mil persones forasteres, XII entren com a segadors com érem a temps de sega. De tres guàrdies que n'hi ha ja n'han morta la primera. XIII En mataren el virrei a l'entrant de la galera. Mataren els diputats i els jutges de l'Audiència. XIV Anaren a la presó donen llibertat als presos. Lo bisbe els va beneir amb la mà dreta i esquerra: XV “Ont és vostre capità, a ont és la vostra bandera?” Varen treure el bon Jesús tot cobert amb un vel negre: XVI “Aquí és nostre capità aquí és nostra bandera. A les armes, catalans, que us han declarat la guerra”.	I Ah, happy Catalonia who has seen you rich and plentiful! Now the king our lord has declared war on us. II The great count of Olivar is always pestering his ear: "Now is the time, our king. now is the time to make war." III Against the Catalans see what they have done already: villages and places followed up to the place of Riudarenes, IV they have burned a church that was called Santa Coloma, they are burning white habits and chasubles the chalices and the patens. V And the Blessed Sacrament praise be to you forever. They killed a priest while Mass was being held. VI They killed a knight at the door of the church, Don Lluís de Furrià and the angels are making him a big feast. VII The bread that was not white they said was too black, they gave it to the horses only to ravage the earth. VIII The wine that was not good they turned on the taps, they threw it in the streets only to irrigate the land. IX In the presence of their parents they dishonoured the maidens. They gave part to the viceroy of the harm that those soldiers were doing: X "I gave them a license many more can be taken.” XI In view of all this the earth has shaken. They entered Barcelona a thousand strangers, XII they come in as reapers as we were in harvest time. Of three guards there the first has already died. XIII The viceroy was killed at the entrance to the galley. They killed the deputies and the judges of the Court. XIV They went to prison they are releasing the prisoners. The bishop blessed them with the right and left hand: XV "Where is your captain, where is your flag?" They took out the good Jesus all covered with a black veil: XVI "Here is our captain here is our flag. To arms, Catalans, they have declared war on you."	I Ay, dichosa Cataluña quién te ha visto rica y llena. Ahora el rey nuestro señor declarada nos tiene la guerra. II El gran Conde de Olivares siempre le hurga la oreja: "Ahora es la hora, rey nuestro ahora es hora que hagamos guerra". III Contra de los catalanes ya véis la que han hecho: Siguieron villas y lugares hasta el lugar del Riu d'Arenas, IV han quemado una iglesia que Santa Coloma se llamaba, queman albas y casullas los cálices y las patenas. V Y el Santísimo Sacramento alabado sea por siempre. Mataron a un sacerdote mientras decía la misa. VI Mataron a un caballero a la puerta de la iglesia, Don Luis de Furrià y los ángeles le hacen gran fiesta. VII El pan que no era blanco decían que era demasiado negro, se lo daban a los caballos solo por asolar la tierra. VIII El vino que no era bueno abrían los grifos [o espitas], lo tiraban por las calles solo por regar la tierra. IX En presencia de sus padres deshonraban a las doncellas. De ello daban parte al Virrey, del mal que esos soldados hacían: X "Licencia les he dado yo mucha más se pueden tomar". XI A la vista de todo esto se ha alborotado la tierra. Entraron en Barcelona mil personas forasteras, XII entran como segadores ya que estaban en tiempos de siega. De tres guardias que hay ya han matado a la primera. XIII Mataron al Virrey a la entrada de la galera. Mataron a los diputados y a los jueces de la Audiencia. XIV Fueron a la prisión dan libertad a los presos. El obispo los bendijo con la mano derecha e izquierda: XV "¿dónde está vuestro capitán? ¿dónde está vuestra bandera?" Sacaron al buen Jesús todo cubierto con un velo negro: XVI "Aquí está nuestro capitán aquí está nuestra bandera. A las armas, catalanes, que os han declarado la guerra".

Recordings and variations

An arrangement of "Els Segadors" appears on "Ballad of the Fallen" by Charlie Haden (1983). Contemporary Catalan composer Jordi Savall made a version of the folk song, using the original narrative (which dates back to the 17th century) combined with the modern lyrics and refrain, which were added later. The song has also been recorded and interpreted by major artists, included on albums such as Traditional Catalan Songs (Victoria de los Ángeles).

In October 2017, in the aftermath of the Catalan independence referendum, the American band A Sound of Thunder released a heavy metal variation of the anthem, using a mix of English and Catalan lyrics.

See also

• Catalan nationalism
• Anthems of the autonomous communities of Spain
• Gernikako Arbola (anthem)

External links

• Els Segadors: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

• Generalitat of Catalonia: National symbols