Commissioned to compose a piece for the 200th anniversary of Argentine independence in 2016, Oscar Escalada chose the text “¡Piu avanti!”, which is perhaps the most famous poem in Argentina. Pedro Bonifacio Palacios (1854-1917) who is better known as “Almafuerte” (Spanish for “strong soul”), was a poet, teacher and journalist. His poem, which is studied by every Argentine student, exhorts the listener to be strong, to be tough, to never give up. Escalada’s original music captures the strength of these famous words, but can be sung by everybody.