The Ecuadorian national anthem was composed by Antonio Neumane (1818-1871) who was born in Germany and was the first Director of the National Conservatory in Quito. Juan León Mera (1832-1894) was the author of the text. Juan León Mera was a scholar and journalist. Later in his life he was the President of the Senate of Ecuador.
The song "Salve, Oh Patria" had been used for a long time before it was officially adopted as the Ecuadorian national anthem on September 29, 1948.
The National Anthem of Ecuador consists of a march-like rhythm and was written in the grandiloquent style.The national anthem of Ecuador consists of a chorus and six verses out of which only the second verse and the chorus are sung. But in formal occasion the whole national anthem is sung.
Juan León Mera
CHORUS
O homeland, we greet you a thousand times!
Glory be to you, O homeland, glory be to you!
Your breast overflows with joy and peace,
And we see your radiant face shining
More brightly than the sun.
The worthy sons of the soil
Which Pichincha on high is adorning,
They declared you as their sovereign lady
And shed their blood for you.
God observed and accepted the sacrifice,
And that blood was the prolific seed
Of other heroes whom the world in astonishment saw