Yellow Rose of Texas Variations, The

Lewis J. Buckley

Arranged by Lewis J Buckley

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General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 7:15
Difficulty: VI (solo)/IV (ensemble) (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Cimarron Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Euphonium
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion

(Percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Commissioned by Dan Vinson, a proud Texan and euphonium player extraordinaire, this is a virtuoso arrangement of the popular Texas song The Yellow Rose of Texas. The song originated in 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto, which ended the Texas War of Independence from Mexico. The legend states that a woman, the “yellow rose,” from Texas distracted the Mexican General Santa Ana, allowing the Texan Army, led by General Sam Houston, to easily defeat the Mexican Army and win independence for Texas with minimal bloodshed. Her aid was memorialized in song that went on to spur Confederate troops in the Civil War and became a popular song throughout the country in the 20th century.

- Program note by The Woodlands High School Wind Ensemble concert program 21 December 2012

Vinson asked Buckley for a traditional theme and variations piece in the mold of the famous euphonium and cornet solos from early in the last century. Following the form of J.B. Arban’s famous Fantaisie and Variations on “The Carnival of Venice,” The Yellow Rose of Texas offers many of the same kinds of variations contained in the Arban. The opening theme is followed by a triple-tonguing variation, a classic polacca, a dramatic slow variation, and the inevitable final “dash” to the end, complete with blazing scale passages. Like the Arban Carnival, The Yellow Rose of Texas is designed for the sole purpose of displaying a talented soloist’s technical virtuosity.

- Program Note from Hebron High School Wind Symphony concert program, 15 December 2016

Media

• Reference recording; ensemble and soloist unknown
• Audio CD: The Woodlands High School Wind Ensemble (Brian Eisemann, conductor; Adam Frey, euphonium)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Tyler (Tx.) Junior College Wind Ensemble (Jeremy M. Strickland, conductor; Danny Chapa, euphonium) - 13 April 2021
• University of North Dakota (Bismarck) Wind Ensemble (James Popejoy, conductor; Brian Bowman, euphonium) – 10 March 2020
• Virginia Grand Military Band (Alexandra) (Arnald Gabriel, conductor; Brian Bowman, euphonium) – 17 January 2020
• Virginia Wind Symphony (Virginia Beach) (Dennis J. Ziesler, conductor; Brian Bowman, euphonium) – 10 November 2019
• Lone Star Youth Winds (Dallas, Tx.) (David Robinson, conductor; Blake Birmingham, euphonium) – 3 March 2019
• North Lamar High School (Paris, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Randy Jones, conductor) - 15 February 2019 (2019 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
• Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) Wind Ensemble (Craig A. Hancock, conductor; Abby Lucas, euphonium) – 15 April 2018
• Amador Valley High School (Pleasanton, Calif.) Wind Ensemble I (Jonathan Grantham, conductor; Kevin Tieck, euphonum) - 17 February 2018 (2018 CASMEC Conference, San Jose)
• Hebron High School (Carrollton, Texas) Wind Symphony (Travis Pruitt, conductor; Brian Bowman, euphonium) - 15 December 2016 (2016 Midwest Clinic)
• The Woodlands High School (Tex.) Wind Ensemble (Brian Eisemann, conductor; Adam Frey, euphonium) – 21 December 2012 (2012 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

None discovered thus far.

Resources

• The Yellow Rose of Texas (song), Wikipedia Accessed 18 February 2018