Symphony No. 1 in A minor, "Martyrs of La Florida"

I. Antonio

As the preeminent martyr, Antonio served as the muse for this work. He was proficient in playing the flute and guitar, so these two instruments feature prominently in the first movement, accompanied by a full orchestra. Visualizing the landscapes of old Florida brought the sound of this piece to life: images of the Atlantic Coast dunes, lush palmettos, massive oaks with Spanish moss, the Castillo de San Marcos, Mission Nombre de Dios, St. George Street, etc.

II. El baile

The Dance features variations and a fugue on La Folia, a famous chord progression dating back to 15th century Spain and Portugal. This dance is a metaphor for the mingling of the Spanish and Timucuan cultures. The Iberrian music is adopted by the indigenous instruments and the two peoples play in concert. This is reflective of the uniquely positive relationship between the Spanish and the Timucua in La Florida. The main theme of El baile represents the Catholic faith growing in the region; it ends without the guitar and indigenous percussion to signify the absence of the Timucua today.

III. Dissolution

Rather than chronologize the events of the crucifixion of Antonio and the dissolution of the Florida missions, this movement grieves the loss of life and mission. Towards the end, the rising anxiety of impending martyrdom is built over twelve measures, ascending the chromatic scale. The time signature cycles through twelve changes, developed from the name Antonio Inija and its anagram, “I join a nation.” In swapping the letters, a seemingly random sequence is revealed, which is used to unbalance the audience as the orchestra races to the climax of martyrdom.

IV. Timucuan Marian Prayer

The Timucuan Prayer to Mary seemed like the perfect subject to end on. The theological knowledge and spiritual sensitivity of the Timucua is demonstrated remarkably in this prayer after Communion. Just as this prayer is a feast of emotions, the text is set to a wide range of music; from confident and powerful, to fearful and trembling, to gentle and reverent. The legacy of the Martyrs of La Florida is a vibrant and ever-growing Catholic Church in America’s Southeast. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice.