Clotilde Arias
Peruvian-American lyricist and composer
title: "Clotilde Arias" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1901-births", "1959-deaths", "people-from-iquitos", "musicians-from-manhattan", "writers-from-brooklyn", "musicians-from-brooklyn", "songwriters-from-new-york-(state)", "20th-century-american-composers", "20th-century-american-translators", "20th-century-american-women-writers", "20th-century-american-women-composers", "advertising-in-the-united-states", "american-lyricists", "peruvian-composers", "peruvian-women-composers", "peruvian-emigrants-to-the-united-states", "peruvian-translators", "english–spanish-translators", "women-in-advertising", "jingle-composers", "jingle-writers", "20th-century-american-songwriters"] description: "Peruvian-American lyricist and composer" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clotilde_Arias" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Peruvian-American lyricist and composer ::
::data[format=table title="infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Clotilde Arias |
| image | Clotilde Arias Estados Unidos (cropped).jpg |
| birth_name | Clotilde Arias Chávarri |
| birth_date | 20 June 1901 |
| birth_place | Iquitos, Peru |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Burlington, Vermont, US |
| nationality | Peruvian |
| occupation | Composer, performer |
| known_for | Composition of song "Huiracocha" and official translation of U.S. anthem to Spanish |
| spouse | |
| children | 1 |
| :: |
| name = Clotilde Arias | image = Clotilde Arias Estados Unidos (cropped).jpg | caption = | birth_name=Clotilde Arias Chávarri | birth_date = 20 June 1901 | birth_place = Iquitos, Peru | death_date = | death_place= Burlington, Vermont, US | nationality = Peruvian | occupation = Composer, performer | known_for = Composition of song "Huiracocha" and official translation of U.S. anthem to Spanish | spouse = | children = 1 Clotilde Arias Chávarri Anduaga de Ferrero (20 June 1901 – 6 May 1959) was a Peruvian-American composer and lyricist.
She is best known for her composition of the song "Huiracocha", popular in Peru and sung worldwide; and for her translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner", the United States national anthem, into lyrical Spanish, commissioned by the U.S. Department of State in 1946. Arias was also an integral part of the Pan-American movement during the 1940s, as well as an advocate for Spanish-language education in the United States.
Life
Arias was born in 1901 in Iquitos, Peru, on the shores of the Amazon. She spent many of her early years in Barbados, where she attended elementary school.
She began writing and composing songs during her teenage years. Arias's artistic talents in music, painting, and composing including playing for silent movies emerged early in Iquitos. She achieved scholastic and artistic recognition, with numerous honors. Her perfect pitch and exceptional ability to sight read made her a highly sought accompanist. Throughout Peruvian history, the Charango was a common instrument of their culture. While Arias focused on composing, she also mastered this instrument as a young child.
She moved to New York City in 1923 to study music. She married José Anduaga, another Peruvian artist, in 1929. They settled in Brooklyn and had a son, Roger. By the early 1940s, Arias had divorced Anduaga and moved to Manhattan with her son. In 1942, she became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Professional career
Arias was an incredibly capable woman, and spent considerable time developing a wide variety of skills. During her lifetime, she worked as a composer, musician, copywriter, educator, translator, journalist, and activist, all while being a single parent. Amongst her many jobs, Arias translated English-language radio shows into Spanish to help reach a wider audience.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Arias gained success as a composer in the male-dominated advertising industry. During World War II, U.S. companies were intent on expanding their markets into Latin America. Arias was perfectly placed and skilled to assist in this endeavor. She frequently worked for advertising companies and composed jingles for Alka-Seltzer, the Ford Motor Company and the Campbell Soup Company. She eventually even became head of the Spanish-language division of the Robert Otto agency.
Arias composed other serious classical songs, including "Idilio Roto (Broken Idyll)," as well as songs in the popular style of the 1930s, some of which she sold door to door to help support her family. Later, she collaborated with notable composers and writers, including Marjorie Harper, Andy Razaf, Albert Gamse and Irving Caesar. Best known were her Spanish lyrics to song hits "Rum and Coca-Cola" (English lyrics by Morey Amsterdam) and "Managua Nicaragua" (English lyrics by Albert Gamse), and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
"''El Pendón Estrellado''"
In 1945, after the Division and Cultural Cooperation of the Department of State, along with the Music Educators National Conference, called for translations of the United States' national anthem,"The Star-Spangled Banner," to be translated into Spanish and Portuguese so that it could be read in the countries that speak those languages. It had already been translated into Spanish twice, but a truly artful singable translation had yet to be realized. Arias took on that task, and translated it as closely as she could into Spanish. Arias' version remains to this day the only official translation of the national anthem allowed to be sung at major events. This translation also had significant political impact at the time, as President Franklin Roosevelt worked to gain allies for the U.S. war effort. Arias' translation was part of a concerted endeavor to create positive relations with Latin American countries through the spread of American patriotic music and culture as part of the Good Neighbor Policy.
''"Huiracocha"''
Source:
Amongst her numerous compositions, Huiracocha may be the best known. Named for a god of the Incas, the song retells the legend of his emergence from the depths of Lake Titicaca to create the sun, moon, and stars, and to breathe life into Allcavica, ancestor of the Inca people. According to Arias's own program note, this song is "dedicated to the Indian, the Forgotten Man of the Americas." It tells of the "sadness of a race calling to the ancient god of their forefathers, who no longer hears his children." Dios del Inca y Dios mio De padres bonanza, De mi hijos la esperanza
Ya tus tierras no florecen y tus templos emmudecen Yen mi alma y un vacio, Huiracocha, padre mío.|Huiracocha! Huiracocha! God of the Inca and my God Beauty for fathers, Hope for my children
Your lands no longer flourish and your temples fall silent And a void in my soul, Huiracocha, my father.}}
Tributes
On December 9, 2006, "Huiracocha" was performed at London's Barbican Hall by tenor Juan Diego Flórez. A separate is also available for viewing.
In 2013, "Huiracocha" was recorded by Ward De Vleeschhouwer on the album Chicha Morada in a version for piano solo.
Her lyrical Spanish translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is on display in The Star-Spangled Banner exhibit at the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
An exhibit with a display of her cultural achievements in the arts and writings opened at the Albert H. Small Documents Gallery September 27, 2012, and was on display until April 2013.
On October 30, 2020, the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. posted a tribute to Arias on their Instagram account @amhistorymuseum.7
List of works
::data[format=table title="List of Works submitted to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|(ASCAP)]]"]
| Title | Composer(s) | Publisher | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Star Spangled Banner | John Stafford Smith | N/A | Clotilde Arias (Official Spanish Translation) |
| The Moon Is Yellow (El Amor Llamo) | Ahlert-Lesli | Bregman, Vocco & Conn Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Que Capricho Loco | Jaime Yamin | Caribbean Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Yo Nunca Quise Amar | Jaime Yamin | Caribbean Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Venca Minina | Clotilde Arias | Caribbean Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish/English lyrics) |
| Mariana Mia | Eaton-Lambert-Gamse | Caribbean Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Love Is Such a Cheat (Tal es el Amor) | Cuperescu-Caesar | Irving Caesar | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Song of Friendship (19 songs) | Irving Caesar | Irving Caesar | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Song of Safety (20 songs) | Mark-Caesar | Irving Caesar | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Rum and Coca-Cola | Sullivan-Baron-Ambsterdam | Leo Feist Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Whispering Pine (Oh Verde Pinar) | Trenet-Lawrence | Leeds Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| There's a Smile in Your Eyes (Ya Sonrie El Amor) | Montes-Siegman | Leeds Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| The Gypsy (La Gitana) | Billy Reid | Leeds Music Company | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| On the Way to Venezuela (La Cancion de Venezuela) | Madriquera-Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Forgotten Serenade (La Serenata Olvidada) | Sugarman-Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| The Girl Behind the Song (El Amor Oculto en mi Cancion) | Madiera-Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Chi-Chi-Chi-Rom-Bom | Olivares-Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Caramba, It's the Samba (Caramba es La Samba) | Vasquez-Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Take It Away (Tomalo Tu) | Madriquera - Gamse | Magnet Music Inc | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| You Are Everything to Me | Sanchez - David | Paramount | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Muchachita | Frydan - Gamse | Empress Music Publisher | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Aos Pes Da Cruz (Al Pie de Aquella Cruz) | Pinto - Goncalves | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Banzo | Tavares - Araujo | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Bates Palmas | Pretinho - Guedes | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Bonita Eres Tu | Moreales - Re | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Coco de Bahia | A. Almeida | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Canta Brazil | Nasser - Vermelho | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Coco de Minha Terra (Coco de Mi Tierra) | Taveres - D'Altavilla | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Mi Ranchero | Clotilde Arias | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Negra de Cabello Duro | Nasser - Soares | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Oh Rancho Fundo | Barroso - Babo | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Plaza Once | Othelo - Martins | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Samba de Copacabana | Nasser - Frazao | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Shu-Shu | Almeida - de Souza | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Teleco-Teco | Caldas - Pinto | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Valle del Rio Dulce | Nasser - Pinto | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Vatapa | Dorival Caymmi | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Song of the River | Savino - Harper | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Soy Bahiana | Dorival Caymmi | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Ela Voi A Feira (Me Seinto Bien) | Roberti - Greco | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Lig-Lig-Lig-Le | Santiago - Barosa | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| La Raspa | Mexican folk song | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Cavaquinho | Nazareth - Almeida | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Santa Rosa | McCarthy Jr - Rae | Robbins Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Escucha Tu | Clotilde Arias | E.B. Marks Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Huiracocha | Clotilde Arias | E.B. Marks Music Corporation | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Carnival | Warren - Russell | Triangle Music Corp | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe (Senora de Guadalupe) | Marjorie Harper | Whalen Music—Chicago | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Santa Rosa de Lima | Marjorie Harper | Whalen Music—Chicago | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Red Lips Yellow Moonlight (Labios Como Amapola) | Clotilde Arias | Leeds Music Corp | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Down the Old Mission Road (Un Recuerdo de Amor) | Marjorie Harper | Top Notch Music Inc. | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| My Foolish Heart (Mi Enamorado Corazon) | Young-Washington | DECCA | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Idilio Roto | Clotilde Arias | R.C.A. Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Suenos de Ayer | Sonia Dmitrowna | R.C.A. Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Amor | Sonia Dmitrowna | R.C.A. Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Gato Libre | Clotilde ARias | R.C.A. Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Sonaba Qui Me Ausentaba | Clotilde ARias | R.C.A. Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Margarita | Sonia Dmitrowna | R.C.A.Victor | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics) |
| Ati-Ra-Ra | Clotilde Arias | Casi Mardi Inc (Santurce P.R.) | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, on record) |
| Ford Car 1951 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, jingle) |
| Ford Car 1952 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, jingle) |
| Royal Coconut Pudding | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, jingle) |
| Pond's Lips | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, jingle) |
| Parkay Margarine No. 1 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) |
| Parkay Margarine No. 2 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) |
| Royal Flan | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) |
| Arrid Deodorant | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | |
| Odorono | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) |
| Tangee Lipstick 1953-54 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Tangee Lipstick 1955 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Bab-O | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Underwood Deviled Ham 1953-54 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Underwood Deviled Ham 1955 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Blue Bonnet Margarine | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Cambell Soups 1953-54 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (lyrics, jingle) | |
| Cambell Soups 1955 | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (jingle on radio and TV) | |
| Cutex Lipstic | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, TV jingle) | |
| Cutex Nail-Polish | Clotilde Arias | Clotilde Arias (Spanish lyrics, TV jingle) | |
| Schaefer Beer 1952-1955 | Clotilde Arias | ||
| Vienna Sausages | Clotilde Arias | ||
| Alka Seltzer 1953 | Clotilde Arias | ||
| Alka Seltzer 1954 | Clotilde Arias | ||
| Alka Seltzer 1954 | Clotilde Arias | ||
| Remington Rand Electric Shaver | Clotilde Arias | ||
| :: |
References
References
- ''New York, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1940''
- Baumann, Susana. (October 12, 2012). "Clotilde Arias honored for Spanish version of Star-Spangled Banner". VOXXI News.
- Millones, Alex. (2024). "Clotilde Arias: A Champion of Inclusive Pan-American Cultural Exchange in New York City (1930-1950)".
- "Iquitos ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias {{!}} Albert H. Small Documents Gallery {{!}} Smithsonian NMAH".
- "Not Lost in Translation". Smithsonian Institution.
- "Brooklyn ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias {{!}} Albert H. Small Documents Gallery {{!}} Smithsonian NMAH".
- "Manhattan ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias {{!}} Albert H. Small Documents Gallery {{!}} Smithsonian NMAH".
- (October 10, 2012). "An Immigrant's 'Star-Spangled Banner,' En Espanol". NPR.
- "Advertising ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias {{!}} Albert H. Small Documents Gallery {{!}} Smithsonian NMAH".
- "The Star-Spangled Banner ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias | Albert H. Small Documents Gallery | Smithsonian NMAH".
- "Huiracocha ~ Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias {{!}} Albert H. Small Documents Gallery {{!}} Smithsonian NMAH".
- link. (July 8, 2011)
- [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/at-american-history-meet-the-composer-of-the-spanish-language-national-anthem-52941483/?no-ist (See article on Smithsonian Magazine)]
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::