«Del clarín, escuchad el sonido…»: birth of patriot Perucho Figueredo.

Perucho Figueredo Cisneros, the author of the National Anthem, was born on February 18th, 1818. So simple it is said and how much history palpitates in the life of this Bayamese, paradigm of abnegation and dedication to the independence of Cuba, who being a lawyer, poet and rural owner, did not hesitate to offer his wealth to the libertarian struggle against the Spanish yoke.

Historians say that he composed the music clandestinely and later, when it was boldly played in public, the inspiration for the lyrics came while he was riding through the square. It was August 1868, two months before the Demajagua heroic deed.

Figueredo titled his work La Bayamesa, and published it in the newspaper El Cubano Libre, on October the 27th of that year.

The beauty, patriotic vigor and harmony of the content, calls to combat and preserves the exciting passion of the first day. The Apostle José Martí published its lyrics and music on June 25th, 1892 in the newspaper Patria, when he was preparing the new independence struggle that broke out on February 24th, 1895.

The life of the patriot Perucho Figueredo was integral and consistent with his ideals. Since he had news that Carlos Manuel de Céspedes had risen with his slaves and was marching towards Bayamo, he declared: «I will go with Carlos Manuel to glory or to the scaffold», and he threw himself into the field of honor.

He cooperated in the capture of Bayamo and in the provisional government of Céspedes he was his secretary of Office when the Republic was constituted in Arms.

Sick from the hardships of the manigua, while he was recovering in a Mambi camp, he was captured by the Spanish General Valmaseda, taken to Santiago de Cuba and shot in 1870.

Written by María elena Bayón.