Alma Llanera
"Alma Llanera" ("Soul of the Plains") is a Venezuelan song, a joropo, created by Venezuelan musicians Pedro Elías Gutiérrez (composer) and Rafael Bolívar Coronado (lyricist). It was originally part of a zarzuela whose premiere was on September 19, 1914, at the Teatro Caracas. Alma Llanera has since come to be considered as Venezuela's unofficial second national anthem.[1] Its hundredth anniversary was marked by its being declared Bien de Interés Cultural.
Song
The first part of Alma Llanera is inspired on the waltz Marisela by composer Sebastian Díaz Peña from Venezuela, while the second part of Alma Llanera is inspired on the waltz Mita by the Curaçaon composer Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906). The title refers to the Llaneros, the herders of Venezuela whose culture is part of the country’s popular imagery. The llanero culture is at the root of the joropo, firstly as a dance and then as a musical genre.
It is a tradition in Venezuela to end any social reunion or party with the intonation of Alma Llanera.
Notable performances
The Venezuela Symphony Orchestra (OSV) made an arrangement of this piece of music to commemorate the 75 years of this widely popular song. Today, Alma Llanera is considered as a Latin America landmark song and has been performed by many famous singers all over the world such as the Spanish tenor, Plácido Domingo, and Mexican ranchera legend, Jorge Negrete.
The song was performed by Danny Ocean during the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony awarded to María Corina Machado.[1]
Lyrics
The original lyrics of the Alma Llanera are as follows:
Yo nací en esta riberadel Arauca vibrador,soy hermano de la espuma,de las garzas, de las rosas,soy hermana de la espuma,de las garzas, de las rosasy del sol, y del sol.
Me arrulló la viva Dianade la brisa en el palmar,y por eso tengo el almacomo el alma primorosa,y por eso tengo el almacomo el alma primorosadel cristal, del cristal.
Amo, lloro, canto, sueñocon claveles de pasión,con claveles de pasión.Amo, lloro, canto, sueñopara ornar las rubias crinesdel potro de mi amador.
Yo nací en esta riberadel Arauca vibrador,soy hermana de la espuma,de las garzas, de las rosasy del sol.
A translation:
I was born in this bankof the vibrating Arauca River,I am brother of its foam,of the herons, of the roses,I am brother of its foam,of the herons, of the rosesand the sun, and the sun.
I was lulled by the vivid reveilleof the breeze in the palm grove,and so I have the soullike the exquisite soul,and so I have the soullike the exquisite soulof the crystal, of the crystal.
I love, I weep, I sing, I dreamwith carnations of passion,with carnations of passion.I love, I weep, I sing, I dreamto adorn the blonde maneof my lover's colt.
I was born in this bankof the vibrating Arauca River,I am brother of its foam,of the herons, of the rosesand the sun.
See also
References
- ^ abCivita, Alicia (2025-12-10). "Danny Ocean Delivers Emotional Performance Honoring María Corina Machado at Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony". Latin Times. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
External links
