William J. Marsh

William John Marsh (June 24, 1880 – February 1, 1971) was an American composer, organist, choir director, and educator most notable for composing "Texas, Our Texas," the official state song for the U.S. state of Texas. He was a longtime figure in the Dallas–Fort Worth arts community, working as a composer, choir director, music professor, and music critic. He published over 100 original compositions, including the official mass of the Texas Centennial and The Flower Fair at Peking, the first opera written and produced in the state of Texas. a suburb of Liverpool, England. In the 1870s, Liverpool native James Marsh had worked for the Texas and Pacific Railway in Dallas, where he met Mary Cecilia McCormick, originally from Kentucky. James and Mary both met at Sacred Heart Cathedral, where they enjoyed singing. They married in 1877 and returned to Liverpool shortly afterward; James ultimately became the mayor of Woolton.

Compositions

During his career, Marsh composed over 100 original musical works, mostly religious in nature. He is best known for the following compositions:

"Sunset" (1913) – Marsh's first published composition, for women's chorus and violin, written for Fort Worth's Harmony Club. "O! Night Divine!" (1917) – The highest-selling Christmas song of 1917. "Texas, Our Texas" (1924) – Marsh composed the music for the state song of Texas based on an older march he had written for Camp Bowie called "Your Flag and My Flag" (1918). The lyrics were written by one of Marsh's friends from church, Fort Worth native Gladys Yoakum (1891–1956). The song, though it remains controversial, is used at inaugurations, all official appearances of the Texas governor, state legislative sessions, holidays commemorating state events, Texas school and university graduation ceremonies, and any other occasions where the state is officially recognized. "Texas, Our Texas" was selected as the state song by multiple appointed committees, but struggled for years to be adopted by the state legislature even though co-writer Gladys Yoakum was herself the stepdaughter of a Texas state legislator. John Philip Sousa called "Texas, Our Texas" his favorite state song; The Flower Fair at Peking (1931) – The first opera written and produced in the state of Texas, it premiered at the 1931 Texas Federation of Music Clubs convention in Temple, Texas, under the direction of Samuel S. Losh. In 1970, the Euterpean Club and the mayor of Fort Worth proclaimed a "William J. Marsh Day" in honor of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of "Texas, Our Texas" as the state song.

Marsh's parents, James and Mary, spent their later years in Fort Worth with William and his sisters Clara, Mae, and Leoni, who operated the Marsh Private School for Young Children.