The Municipal Group Vox wants to study, via analysis by the Villa Chroniclers, that the chotis Madridby Agustín Lara, could be the official anthem of the capital, an initiative that they will take to the Cibeles Plenary Session this Tuesday. From the party they argue that many artists have dedicated songs to Madrid, from Joaquín Sabina to Loquillo, Leño, Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel, Ketama, Pereza, Mecano, Barón Rojo or Antonio Flores.
“But few songs better represent the essence of the people of Madrid, written by a Mexican and from a distance, than the schottische Madridby Agustín Lara which, without being officially, is the anthem of Madrid”, they have defended.
They also propose that the chotis be declared cultural manifestation of special relevance and general interest for Madrid and BIC for the Community, as are the San Isidro festivities. It would be the previous step to the negotiations with the Government of the Nation to declare it a representative manifestation of the intangible cultural heritage, as zarzuela already is.
The proposal proposes the transfer of a municipal premises to the Federation of Traditional Madrid Groups so that they can continue developing their activity, in addition to encourage chotis in municipal music and dance schools.
Almeida’s Legacy
Vox argues that every mayor has had a legacy: Tierno Galván and the Movida Madrileña; Álvarez del Manzano as “creator of Samur, Ifema or the Juan Carlos I park”; Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón with the burying of the M-30 and Madrid Río; Ana Botella and the “reorganization of the accounts and BiciMad and Manuela Carmena” with the remodeling of Gran Vía, the beginning of the Plaza de España and Madrid Central reform.
Although “it is still early” to point out the legacy of José Luis Martínez-AlmeidaVox has no doubt about “his contribution to rise of casticism and of chotis”.
“Being the capital of Spain has surely meant that ‘Madrileñismo’ has been overshadowed by the weight of national cultural manifestations, which puts the survival of traditionalism in the future at risk,” they argue, after defending that “a Modern Madrid is perfectly compatible with the maintenance of their traditions“.
He traditional phenomenon in Madrid it is present in the work of Ramón de la Cruz, Goya, Mesonero Romanos, Pérez Galdós, Pedro de Répide, Arniches or Gómez de la Serna, Vox indicates, with the chotis, originating in the Czech Republic, like the dance Madrid par excellence. The people of Madrid gave it their particular touch with the music of the organ.
