14 Facts About Clotilde Arias

Clotilde Arias Chavarri Anduaga de Ferrero was a Peruvian-American lyricist and composer.

Clotilde Arias 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 US Department of State in 1946.

Clotilde Arias spent many of her early years in Barbados, where she attended elementary school.

Clotilde Arias began writing and composing songs during her teenage years.

Clotilde Arias achieved scholastic and artistic recognition, with numerous honors.

Clotilde Arias moved to New York City in 1923 to study music.

Clotilde Arias married Jose Anduaga, another Peruvian artist, in 1929.

Clotilde Arias mastered multitasking at a time when women commonly did not work outside the home.

Clotilde Arias was sometimes all of them at the same time.

Clotilde Arias's skills were in great demand, even during the Great Depression, but especially during World War II when US companies tried to expand their markets in Latin America, and ad agencies drafted into the war effort helped create campaigns to develop a favorable image of the United States.

Clotilde Arias worked for advertising agencies and composed jingles for Alkaseltzer, the Ford Motor Company and the Campbell Soup Company.

Clotilde Arias composed other serious classical songs, including "Idilio Roto," as well as songs in the popular style of the 1930s, some of which she sold door to door to help support her family.

Clotilde Arias took on that task, and translated it as closely as she could into Spanish.

Clotilde Arias' version remains to this day the only official translation of the national anthem allowed to be sung.