Bartolomé Pérez Casas

Spanish composer, conductor and arranger Bartolomé Pérez Casas (Lorca, Murcia, 24 January 1873 – Madrid, 15 January 1956). He was the author, in 1908, of the harmonization of the "Royal March" (Spanish official hymn) in his time by the Banda Del Real Cuerpo de Guardias Alabarderos, which was entrusted to him by King Alfonso XIII. Over time, these arrangements were declared official by means of a Decree-Law of the Presidency of the Government of July 17, 1942, which meant that he and his heirs received arranger rights for the National Hymn until the final acquisition by the State through Royal Decree 1543/1997.