Alcalá de Henares has its own anthem since 1960. Its lyrics—known by most of its inhabitants—are sung by Alcalá’s tuna and have turned to be the most popular version of the anthem.
The newspaper Diario de Alcalá reads as follows:
Alcalá de Henares paso doble happens to be the anthem of the Complutum city since more than a half century ago. In fact, it sounded for the first time in July 29th, 1960, into the today’s disappeared bullring of Guadalajara Avenue.
The idea of giving Alcalá its own song emerges from the businessman José Navarro, born in Aragón and passionate of Alcalá and its history. He commissioned the composition to another adopted citizen of Alcalá, the military Fernando Sáez de Santamaría, man of great culture and literary skills.
Pages of the historical newspaper Nuevo Alcalá embraced several of his creations, both narratives and poems, signed with the pseudonymous of Fernando Flandes. Thus, while he took care of writing the lyrics, José Cebrián composed the music. That afternoon of July, 29th, the song sound for the first time during the celebration of a bullring “Alcalá de Henares / From the language and culture you are the glory / Illuminating with its flame the memory / Of the Golden Age of Spanish Tradition”. However, it was not until 1965 when it was recorded for the first time into a paso doble CD, thanks to Alcalá’s musician Antonio Cerezo and his rondalla [ensemble of stringed instruments].
Alcalá’s Anthem Lyrics
Following the footsteps of old students,
who in other times patrolled the city,
elegant girls as pretty as in years past,
still today brightening Alcalá up
Into the convents the voice of the bell
remind centuries of prays and vocation
and when sleeping, the echo of rondallas
wake up melodies you have previously heard with love
Alcalá de Henares
From the language and culture you are the glory
Illuminating with its flame the memory
of the Golden Age of Spanish Tradition
Alcalá de Henares
Under the shelter of your shadow I wish I were
And close, intimately close to the Virgin
venerated into del Val chapel
Today, no more tunas are selling illusions
Nor walls protecting your territory
But in the midst of grill fencing your balconies
Cheerful hearts reappear
Among the ivy hiding your longing
And through the cracks hurting its pain
Silently smile the millenary stones
As they know others revive your warm
Alcalá de Henares
From the language and culture you are the glory
Illuminating with its flame the memory
of the Golden Age of Spanish Tradition
Alcalá de Henares
Under the shelter of your shadow I wish I were
And close, intimately close to the Virgin
venerated into del Val chapel
Read the original Spanish lyric
Lyrics: Fernando Sáez de Santamaría (Fernando Flandes)
Music : José Cebrián
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