The Answer is..... Shenandoah. Yes, it is rather strange to end each verse with "....across the wide Misspouri." But I think the tune is viewed as Virginia. I recall a couple of years ago at one of our educational institutions where a member of the staff said they could not any longer play DIXIE or BONNIE BLUE FLAG, so they did SHENANDOAH.
The best news of all is that IF it is voted the state song even for an interim time, I have a march called BAND OF THE SHENANDOAH which I wrote around the tune some 15 years ago, and which I shall gladly provide the full-band arrangement to any band in Virginia who wants it. It has been played by such bands in Virginia as the Clarke County Community Band, Stonewall Brigade Band, Shrine Mont Marching Band, VMI Regimental Band, and VMI's Cabell-Breckinridge Brass Band. It was one of the two keynote marches played for the return of the Winchester National Guard unit, (HHC 3rd Bn 116th Inf 29th Div) last July. The other was Sousa's "Rifle Regiment." Of course as long-time readers of VA-HIST will realize, I chose the two of them, so I am not the unbiased reporter I might appear :)))
I respect the druthers of VA-HIST not to clutter up the lines with audio and image attachments. But if any of you individuals want a short (18 seconds) MP3 rendition of the last part of the Trio of BAND OF THE SHENNANDOH, let me know and I'll send it. I assure you that it will cause your toes to tap, your feet to step out smartly, and give you an upbeat way to start the new day :))
Randy Cabell
Shoot. Now that I think about it, whether or not it is chosen the state song, the march is so good that I'll send it to any band in the state that wants a copy of it. RWC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Batson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 9:29 AM
Subject: State song
> For those who follow such things, the question about a state song for
> the commonwealth still lingers. An article in yesterday's Washington
> Post
> (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR20060
> 12502212.html) states that a Senate panel is recommending "Shenandoah"
> as the "interim official state song." With the recent discussion about
> the lack of adherence to historical fact in Terence Malick's "New
> World," one has to wonder why "Shenandoah," which has nothing to do with
> Virginia, is so closely associated with the state. The state senator
> promoting the song (Colgan, D-Prince William) basically said, so what if
> the song has nothing to do with Virginia; everyone knows it. He thinks
> we need to have a state song for 2007. I find the debate amusing.
>
> Incidentally, the Post article said that Virginia was the only state
> without an official state song. Today, the Post corrected that
> statement. Seems that New Jersey doesn't have one, either.
>
> Barbara C. Batson
> Exhibitions Coordinator
> The Library of Virginia
> 800 East Broad Street
> Richmond, VA 23219-8000
> 804-692-3518
>
>
>
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