D. Lee Jackson

Words and Music

World Premiere Announcement – Elegy 137

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SACWE logo

I am honored to announce that the San Antonio Community Wind Ensemble (SACWE) will present the world premiere of my newest work, “Elegy 137,” on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., in the auditorium at Texas A&M University–San Antonio.

“Elegy 137” was written in memory of those who were lost during the devastating July 4th weekend flooding in Central Texas in 2025. At the time I wrote the work, 137 people lost their lives, with two people missing (some counts now list 139 deaths from the flooding). The tragedy struck close to home for me. I grew up in Austin, and many of my childhood days were spent in the countryside near Marble Falls — areas affected by the flooding. This work is dedicated to the memory of those lives, and to their friends and families, whose lives were forever changed by that weekend.

The premiere will be performed by SACWE, an ensemble whose musicianship and spirit make them uniquely suited to introduce this piece to the world. Their recent 10th anniversary concert, available on YouTube, showcases the ensemble’s exceptional blend, sensitivity, and energy. SACWE is part of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps’ umbrella organization, Crossmen Productions, Inc., a group with a long tradition of excellence. The ensemble brings together musicians from across the San Antonio metro area — students, educators, professionals, and lifelong players — forming a dynamic and passionate musical family whose collective voice reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. Albert Aguilar, SACWE’s Music Director, for agreeing to program “Elegy 137” and for granting permission to share this announcement. His leadership, vision, and trust are remarkable, and having SACWE premiere the work is an honor I value profoundly.

More details will be shared as the performance date approaches, including additional program information and recording availability. Please watch this space for further announcements.

If you are in the San Antonio area on October 25th, I warmly invite you to attend the premiere and join us for this special moment as “Elegy 137” is performed for the very first time.

P.S. – If you wish to support ongoing recovery efforts, please consider donating to the Central Texas Flood Recovery Fund. Thank you.

The Duets are Coming, the Duets are Coming!

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November Calendar Way, way back in the ancient days of November, 1982, the person who would soon become my wife sat with me in a music practice cubicle in what used to be called the “New Music Building” on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. She had her French Horn out, while I had my bassoon out and was sitting near the room’s upright piano. Together, we came up with the crude beginnings of a piece of music that would be known during that day as the “Allegro Duet” for horn and bassoon.

Fast forward to the year 2023, a time skip of 41 years. I lay my hands on the music notation program known as Dorico Pro. As part of my learning process, I took the incomplete “Allegro Duet” and entered it into the program.

On occasions diverse, I would peck at the piece, tweaking notes sometimes, adding more notes at other times. This pattern would continue for approximately two years.

Make another skip with me to the year 2025, and the month of November, almost exactly 43 years after the beginnings of the work. I finally found the inspiration I needed to finish what was now known as the “November Duet.” A short while later, versions for a pair of Horns in F and for a Horn in F plus a Tuba would be added to the story.

Finally, on this 29th day of April, 2026, one of the pieces known as a “November Duet” would appear on the library of Cimarron Music Press, at last available for procurement! Surprisingly, it would be the version for two Horns in F that would see the light of day first, but the other two versions will be added most likely by the end of this week.

Here is the link to Cimarron’s posting of the two horns version:
https://www.cimarronmusic.com/novemberduethorn

You can also see the other works I’ve had published through Cimarron here;
https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/music/music-published-through-cimarron-music-press/

 

Performance Livestream of “Bohemian Galop” Scheduled!

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Man Playing French Horn Mark your calendars! On April 20th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, there will be a concert livestreamed from the campus of Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. This concert will feature a performance of my work for Horn sextet, “Bohemian Galop,” by the Messiah University Horn Ensemble!

The members of the Messiah University Horn Ensemble include Nate Winton, Mimi Weller, Oliver Paris, Charlie George, Roseann Sachs, and Mary Grace Friedell. These talented folks have been working on “Bohemian Galop” since early in the semester, under the expert tutelage of Dr. Michael Harcrow, Messiah University’s Professor of Music (Horn, Music Theory, and Brass Ensembles). The ensemble will be giving “Bohemian Galop” its Premiere performance.

Dr. Harcrow has kept me up to date on the ensemble’s progress, and I have to admit that I am thrilled by what he’s reported. I am really looking forward to their performance, and I hope that you will join me in watching it on the 20th. 

Here are the links you’ll need to watch it:

If you’d like to listen to “Bohemian Galop” prior to the concert, click on the following link:

Also, here’s where you can purchase a copy of “Bohemian Galop” for your own performances:

This promises to be an exciting night, so please tune in! Thank you!

Song Renamed – “Elegy 137”

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RTFM I received some good advice from someone about my “Central Texas Elegy” work. Basically, they said I was doing the piece no favors by giving it the title I’d given it. In their opinion, I was limiting its appeal by calling it “Central Texas” anything.

I agreed. As a result, “Central Texas Elegy” is dead. Long live “Elegy 137.”

Those of you who have read the former’s informational posts will recognize the meaning of the new name instantly. The “137” part is a direct reference to the current number of lives known to be lost to the Central Texas flooding of the July 4th weekend of 2025. So, you see, I haven’t changed the song’s reason for being. I’ve only changed its name.

I welcome discussion of this in the comments. Thank you for reading this.

D. Lee Jackson
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