From Anahuac to San Jacinto

Description

Most Texans, young and not-so-young, are familiar with the events surrounding and leading up to April 21,1836: the confrontation as Anahuac; the courageous defense and subsequent fall of the Alamo and its leaders Crockett, Travis, and Bowie; the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos; the ambush and capture of Fannin’s men and their demise during the Goliad massacre; dwindling Texan forces in retreat and low on morale; and the improbable victory at San Jacinto by Sam Houston’s smaller, highly motivated, troops over the Mexican forces led by Santa Anna. Legend and myth surround many of the accompanying anecdotes connected with the Texas fight for independence. And while historians may disagree on specifics, there is apparently no denying that a small group of fiddlers “sawed away” to the melody of a then-popular frontier love song, Will You Come To The Bower?, while the battle raged on with Texans shouting “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”

This march attempts so capture the unrest of the times by using Texian melodies of the day in conjunction with unifying quotes from the Official State Song, Texas, Our Texas written by W.I. Marsh in 1925. Research suggests that The Yellow Rose of Texas was probably written by a slave who arrived in Texas during the 1830’s. Although never heard in its original form, it is relatively easy to hear this melody during the opening strain. It is dressed in minor mode, bi-tonality, and tossed into fragments much like the rag-tag collection of under-trained and ill-equipped Texas militia. After the recap of the introductory fanfares, a military cadence ensues, immediately followed by Will You Come To The Bower? This melody serves as the main material for the second half of the work. As Letters M and N, the “not-quite-right” counter melody is material derived from the first strain of “The Texian Grand March” written in 1835 by Edwin Meyrick. The work concludes with material recalling the introduction and a brief quota.

This tribute to our heritage is dedicated to all of the pioneers and leaders of the Texas public school band movement to whom we are greatly indebted.

Published by: RBC Publications