La Santa Espina

La Santa Espina (The Holy Thorn) is a sardana composed by Enric Morera with lyrics written by Àngel Guimerà. It is the most emblematic of all sardanas and is considered a patriotic hymn by the Catalans.

It was premiered in 1907 in the Teatre Principal of Barcelona as part of a zarzuela of the same name and nowadays is usually performed as the final piece in many cobla concerts. Because of its Catalanist connotacions La Santa Espina was prohibited during the dictatorships of Primo de Rivera (1923–1930) and Francisco Franco (1939–1975), when also the Catalan national anthem Els Segadors was forbidden.

Recorded versions
La Santa Espina was first recorded in 1907 by the cobla La Principal de Peralada and is always included in all recording compilations of the best and most popular sardana songs. Due to its popularity and symbolic relevance, it has been also performed by many musicians other than classic sardana bands.

One of these alternative versions is the jazzy cover by Charlie Haden and Carla Bley in the famous Liberation Music Orchestra's album The Ballad of the Fallen (1983). More recently, it has been also interpreted in different styles by Catalan artists like Marina Rossell and Toti Soler.