Santa Anna's Retreat
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Banjo Tablature
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
PDF Files:
--- choose file type ---
Standard Notation
Banjo Tablature
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
Tune Sheet
Standard Notation - wide
Mandolin Tablature - wide
Violin Tablature - wide
Banjo Tablature - wide
American
Play
MIDI
Play
the audio
Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Santa Anna's Retreat", also known as "Santa Anna's March" is an old-time<br> breakdown in A Mixolydian/Dorian The parts are played AABB.<br> Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876) is best known as commander<br> of the Mexican forces at the Alamo in 1836 and later defeated at<br> the battle of San Jacinto (he was captured and interviewed by<br> U.S. President Andrew Jackson, then released to return home).<br> At the time of the conflict with Texas he was not only General<br> of the Army but the president of Mexico and was also leader of Mexico at<br> several different times during his life. During the Mexican-American<br> War of 1846-47 he again commanded the Mexican forces opposing the<br> United States army.<br> The Fuzzy Mountain String Band learned the tune<br> from Glen Lyn, Virginia, fiddler Henry Reed, who apparently learned<br> the tune from his mentor, neighboring fife player Quince Dillon,<br> a fifer in the Mexican War. Reed told musicologist Alan Jabbour that<br> the tune was used by Santa Anna’s army in retreat from the Americans,<br> although Jabbour thought it was more likely it was played by the<br> Americans due to its British origins. Under the title “Johnny Cope”<br> it appears in O’Neill’s Music of Ireland (No. 1812, with the remark<br> “Irish version”).<br> The banjo tablature is by John Letscher. His comment:<br> From the playing of the Fuzzy Mountain String Band.<br> The first ending of the A part repeats the pick-up sequence.<br> It was printed in<br> Banjo Newsletter (1978),<br> Pickin' Magazine (1979/03),<br> Brody's Fiddler’s Fakebook (1983),<br> Brody's Guitar Picker's Fakebook (1984),<br> Brody's Banjo Picker's Fakebook (1985),<br> Slater's Clawhammer Banjo Solos (1979),<br> Carlin's English Concertina (1977) and<br> Spadaro's 10 Cents a Dance (1980).<br> It was recorded by The Red Clay Ramblers on Chuckin' the Frizz (1979)<br> (as “Santa Anna’s March”),<br> Fuzzy Mountain String Band on Summer Oaks and Porch (1973),<br> Norman Blake on Directions and<br> Alan Jabbour, James Reed and Bertram Levy on A Henry Reed Reunion (2002).<br>
Click
here
for a full page view.