Spirit from Snow's Island, The (Band Gr. 2.5)

The Spirit from Snow's Island musically portrays the Carolina Marsh Tacky, a breed of horse from the barrier islands of South Carolina. These horses were used during the American Revolution, mysteriously emerging from the swamps to attack the British forces before returning home undetected.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 2.5 | Duration: 3:10

Instrumentation
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
F Horn
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
Baritone T.C. in B-flat
Tuba

Timpani (2 drums)
Keyboard Percussion (Bells)
Percussion 1 & 2 (Snare Drum, Bass Drum)
Percussion 3 & 4 (Mark Tree, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Temple Blocks, Crash Cymbals)

Program Notes
The South Carolina state Heritage Horse is a breed known as the Carolina Marsh Tacky. “Tacky” means “like a common horse” and the breed comes from the barrier islands of South Carolina. They are descendants of the Colonial Spanish group of horse breeds.

The horse was later used during the American Revolution by Francis Marion, known as The Swamp Fox. Marion used guerrilla warfare tactics against the British using the agile tacky horses to appear out of the swamps from his headquarters, Snow’s Island. After his many successful raids, his troops would disappear back to their home base undetected.

The music portrays the tacky trotting and then more “mysterious” music would be played to reflect the horse venturing through the swamps – only to pick up more energy as the horse went running out into the fields for attack.  There are fewer than 300 Carolina Marsh Tackies in the world, so the breed is considered endangered.

This piece was written for and dedicated to the Gregg Middle School Band in Summerville, South Carolina, Barry Montoya, Director of Bands. With the "Spirit" of the Marsh Tacky, the students, teachers and administrators of Gregg Middle School have always endeavored to be the their best, changing the lives of each other and their local community for the better.