San Juan de la Nava has unveiled its municipal anthem, completing the trio of symbols that represent this village in the Valle del Alberche, located on the southern face of the Paramera mountains. The event, held in the Plaza de la Constitución, was attended by Carlos García, president of the Diputación de Ávila, and mayors from nearby municipalities such as Navaluenga, Sotillo de la Adrada, El Barraco, and Navaquesera.
“It has been a historic day for the town,” García remarked, highlighting the “support of the Diputación for the culture of our municipalities, their traditions, roots, and customs… which are reflected in festivals, celebrations, and symbols like this anthem that unites all residents, both those with origins here and those who are no longer with us.”
The mayor of San Juan de la Nava, Carlos Díaz, expressed the significance of this premiere for the community: “For our town, this is something great; it gives us another representation, and now it will be played at all official events.”
David Yuste, a teacher at the local Dulzaina School, emphasised the historical connection of the instrument with the municipality and paid an emotional tribute to the town's former dulzaineros, recalling the legacy of his father, who revived this tradition in the late 1980s and founded the dulzaina group ‘Los Sanjuaniegos’. “An anthem represents the identity, history, and spirit of a town, and, as it should be, it is performed with dulzaina because it has been part of our tradition for many years. We hope this melody is recognised by all Sanjuaniegos and always reminds us of our roots,” he stated.
The composition is presented in a pasodoble format, featuring a pleasant rhythm based on the dulzaina. For the occasion, two main arrangements have been designed: a sung version inspired by the traditional ‘Ronda de los Quintos’ from carnival, where the dulzaina leads into the sung verses accompanied by a drum; and an instrumental version intended for exclusive dulzaina performances, ideal for official ceremonies and dancing.
The lyrics and theme of the anthem pay homage to the customs, traditions, and hardworking people of the locality, referencing deeply rooted elements such as aguardiente (a traditional spirit) and the dulzaina itself. The reception from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, with an initial run of two hundred commemorative scrolls featuring the lyrics proving insufficient due to high demand.
The event on Saturday also included performances by the local Jotas School, participation from a local dance group, a comedy show, and a traditional tasting of mantecados (a type of sweet) and roscas with lemonade.
