"La Bayamesa" or "El Himno de Bayamo" is a Cuban pre- song which has been the national anthem of Cuba since 1902. First performed in 1868 during the Battle of Bayamo, author and freedom fighter Perucho Figueredo who battled in Bayamo, wrote the lyrics to this song and composed the music before being executed by the Spaniards. In 1898, Cuban conductor Antonio Rodriguez-Ferrer was the anthem's musical introductory note conductor.