The Lost Colony - Robert Chedville, Jr.

The Lost Colony is a 2024 composition by Louisiana composer Robert Chedville, Jr. The piece had its world premier on May 7th, 2024 at Magle Recital Hall in Natchitoches, Louisiana; performing ensemble was the Natchitoches Central High School Concert Band.
Notes from the composer:
The Lost Colony is a journey describing the tale that was the Roanoke Colony that was first established in 1585. This is a story of the strange disappearance of over 100 colonists. It began with the colony founder, Ralph Lane, in 1585. They first set up on Roanoke Island, now known as Dare County, North Carolina. The colony struggled due to a lack of sufficient supplies and poor relations from local Native Americans that were already established on the island. Lane abandoned this colony and went back home to England. Following the failure of the 1585 colony, a subsequent colony under the jurisdiction of John White was sent back to the same geographical location two years later. White and his new colony was pinned down on Roanoke with flagship pilot Simon Fernandes just shortly after setting up camp. White, to keep the peace, agreed to return to England on Fernandes's behalf, while also having the intention of bringing more supplies back to the colony from England. When White reached England, the Anglo-Spanish War was in full effect. The war caused White's return voyage to the colony to be delayed, not reaching the colony until 1590. Upon his arrival to the colony, he did not find his colony, rather a very cryptic message carved into the side of a tree, CRO. White Interpreted this as a code message from his fellow colonists, meaning that they have relocated safely onto the island of Croatoan, just farther southwest from Roanoke Island. Before White could chase after his beloved friends and adversaries in the colony, he was forced to ship back to England once again due to inclement weather conditions and lack of supplies for a. longer expedition. To this day, the fate of over 100 colonists' lives is still a mystery. Whether they truly settled on the island of Croatoan, or migrated someplace else along the coastline is a major debate among historians and archaeologists. This piece of music will take you through the journey of the Roanoke People, from start to finish.