"España de la guerra (1808)": la difusión internacional del cancionero de la Guerra de la Independencia

Abstract

This article analyses the unique history of the patriotic song España de la guerra, premiered in Cádiz in 1808 during the Peninsula War (Spanish War of Independence). This piece became extremely popular during and after the conflict, and it was mentioned in the most important collections of patriotic papers, both contemporary and subsequent to its composition. It was also very widely disseminated, references or copies of the song being located in such different and remote places as Cádiz, Majorca, London and the missions of Alta California. All this reflects not only the importance of this piece, but its ideological instrumentalisation and adaptation to different political contexts. The main source consulted for this analysis was the press, especially that published between 1808 and 1814. Documents about the Peninsula War have also been examined, as well as literary and musical collections, including Adolfo de Castro’s Catálogo de himnos, marchas, canciones políticas […] and various collections of patriotic songs located at the Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid. Complementing the analysis of the circulation of this work is the presentation of a version of España de la guerra printed in London, which has remained hitherto unpublished.