MSCN Focuses on Women Composers

Music Study Club of Navasota was recently treated to a program that featured Women Composers. It was especially interesting and meaningful both because of the presenter and because of the facts she presented.

MSCN long-time member and retired NISD Music Teacher, Laura Cherry Purcell, gathered data surrounding Women Composers and the songs they wrote. Of special note were Navasota twins, Julia D. and Jessica Owen. In 1922, Miss Julia wrote the Texas Bluebonnet Song and the same year Miss Jessica wrote Thou Art the Dearest. Later the Owen sisters gave the sheet music to Willie Floyd McCallum of Navasota. Mr. McCallum’s family then donated the music to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin.

Assisting with the program were club members, Carol Jean Gessner, Carolee Botkin, Judith LaFontaine and Jeanette Tanski. Additional songs by women composers included I Love You Truly, Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Brazos River Moon plus several other selections. Two wellknown Texas favorites— Deep in the Heart of Texas, 1941 and Texas Our Texas, written in 1924 and adopted as our state song in 1929 were written by women. The presentation reminded those in attendance of the impact and influence women composers have had, not only on Texas music, but also on music in general.

The Music Study Club of Navasota is in its 107th year of service; National Music Week will be celebrating its 101st year here in Nava sota, May 3-10. As a member of both the Texas and the National Federation of Music Clubs, the local organization strives to aid and encourage music education to benefit all. Watch the Navasota Examiner for upcoming music programs in the city and schools.