Jubilation Overture - SMC868 | Muziek

James Barnes wrote "Jubilation Overture" to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city of Lawrence, Kansas, home to the composer for years and location of the University of Kansas, the biggest University of the state, where James Barnes teaches orchestration, composition and wind band history.
Lawrence is situated along the banks of the Wakarusa and Kansas Rivers. Also the two biggest trails for settlers of the 19th century, Oregon trail and Santa Fe trail, passed Lawrence.
The city was foundet 1854 by the New England Emigrant Aid Company, part of the anti-slavery movement, and this is why mainly people opposing slavery settled in Lawrence. The liberal attitude provoked several raids by proponents of slavery and during Civil War there was a cruel attack by the Confederacy and they burned down large areas of the city. This history but also the inhabitants' fortitude shows in the city coat of arms: Phoenix rising from the ashes of the burning city.
Today Lawrence is an animate city with about 90.000 inhabitants, the number fluctuating because of the large quantity of students.
James Barnes' "Jubilation Overture" is a festive music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lawrence, with a solemn middle part and a bright finale.