Every country has its own anthem. It's a song of pride, unity and strength. It brings neighbors together and reminds them that they're all equals abiding by the same set of rules and guidelines. It's mark, a highly esteemed symbol of identity, unique to every country in message and origin, particularly Costa Rica's.
In the mid 19th Century, ambassadors from Great Britain and the United States arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica. Juan Rafael More Porras, the president at the time, quickly realized that his country lacked a national song. With such dignitaries on their way, Porras scrambled to compose an anthem with which to greet them.
According to Inside Costa Rica, Porras reached out to the director of Costa Rica's National Army Orchestra, Manuel Maria Gutierrez, but much to his dismay, Gutierrez claimed to know nothing about musical composition. So in a calm, rational response, Porras threw him in prison, setting bail at "One National Anthem."
Despite his lack of musical composition abilities, Gutierrez delivered. The result was performed on June 11, in either 1852 or 1853, in the National Assembly in San Jose. Gutierrez was in attendance, shackle free. Although people have questioned the validity of the story because of the disputed year, it's still regarded as the origin of Costa Rica's national anthem.
It's ironic. A song that embodies freedom was written from inside a jail cell, it's composer locked away without just. It's likely that Gutierrez wrote the song with none of these qualities in mind. In fact, he probably felt rather sour towards his country for supporting such a ridiculous act. But hey, the country got what it needed, despite its composer's motive. Sometimes that's just the way it is.
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