The anthem, donated to the Beduinos Troupe by Espinosa's family, was unveiled last Friday in an emotional event held at the Castillo Fortaleza. Antonio Espinosa, a musician, composer, and director of the Coral Levantina for over forty years, conceived this piece for the oldest troupe in Santa Pola's Moors and Christians festivities.
The original score, consisting of only 49 bars, remained unpublished for years until Susi Lozano, a member of the Mare de Déu de Loreto band, found it among the association's archives.
Maestro Vicente Brotons was tasked with expanding the work, respecting Espinosa's melody and his Hispano-Arabic inspiration. Brotons maintained the first part as Espinosa wrote it and developed the rest, giving prominence to the brass instruments to culminate the march.
As a tribute, Brotons incorporated the characteristic rhythm of the Moorish march 'Chimo', by maestro José María Ferrero, into the piece's finale. This inclusion recalls a moment Brotons experienced over thirty years ago when he discovered Espinosa's score titled 'Los Beduinos' while preparing for a performance.
The event included a symbolic handover of the original score. Asun Pérez, María Asunción Ruiz (represented by her daughter), and Conchi Martínez, prominent figures of the Beduinos Troupe, received the score from José Emilio Espinosa, the composer's son. Subsequently, the baton passed to Jorge Baeza, the band's director, for the performance.
The president of Beduinos, José Pedro Sempere, and the mayor, Loreto Serrano, concluded the event with their speeches, preceding another rendition of the march that marked the end of the festive night.
