The title 'Yemassee River' represented
artistic license on the part of the composer
since there is in fact no river by that exact
name in South Carolina. There is however
the Combahee River which runs very close
to the town of Yemassee (with a tributary
leading to it), and this is no doubt the river
to which Ernst Bacon was referring.
The Combahee River, located in the South
Carolina low country, and part of the
now-protected ACE Basin, is an area of
abundant bird and wildlife, flowers, trees,
and thickly hanging Spanish moss.
The name 'Yemassee' refers to the
Yemassee Indian tribe which inhabited
the area from the late 1600's to the early
1700's. In 1715 the Yemassee rose up against
the British for unfair trade practices,
encroachment on their land, and
mistreatment, but were defeated and
forced to flee to Florida.
The easy-going languid feel of
Ernst Bacon's 'Yemassee River' is
reminiscent of a hot sultry day in the
South Carolina low country.
The tune is taken from a
spiritual song.
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