1866 anthem game at
RFK Stadium,
Washington, D.C., in 2011 In 1866, at the initiative of doctor
Francisco Dueñas, who at the time was
President of the Republic, the first national anthem of El Salvador was created by Cuban doctor Tomás M. Muñoz, who wrote the lyrics, and Salvadoran musician Rafael Orozco, who composed the music. This national anthem was legally adopted through Executive Agreement of 8 October 1866, being published in the state newspaper
El Constitucional No. 31, Volume 2, of 11 October 1866, to be officially released on 24 January 1867. This anthem was sung until the overthrow of President Dueñas through a
coup d'état in 1871.
1879 anthem Later, in 1879, at the initiative of then president
Rafael Zaldívar, the current National Anthem of El Salvador would be created by
Cañas and
Aberle as authors of its lyrics and music, respectively. Through the Executive Agreement of 3 June 1891, published in the
Official Gazette No. 128, Volume 30, of 3 June 1891, and General
Carlos Ezeta being then president, it was legally adopted, at the initiative of Ezeta, as a new national anthem known under the official name of
"El Salvador Libre", which was dedicated to the
Salvadoran Armed Forces. The composition of the lyrics and music of this national anthem, which was previously officially released on 2 May 1891, was the responsibility of Italian artist Césare Georgi Vélez. General Ezeta was overthrown in a
coup d'état executed in 1894, and after his fall, the national anthem made by Cañas and Aberle was sung again in 1879, although it lacked official recognition. This situation was resolved by Legislative Decree No. 1231, of 13 November 1953, published in the Official Gazette No. 226, Volume 161, of 11 December 1953, == Regulation ==