THE LION AND THE EAGLE

Historical notes on the March

The Lion and the Eagle, referred to as "Gran marcia da concerto", is a composition by Maestro Ernesto Abbate, although the exact date of its composition is unknown, but we can certainly trace it back to the period from 1919 to 1933, that is, the period in which Maestro E. Abbate was director of the band of the city of Squinzano (LE). This can certainly be deduced from the title, which is a clear reference to the symbols present in the coat of arms of the Salento municipality, which consists of a medallion surmounted by an eagle, inside which a lion emerges from the woods, turning back. History tells that in 1559 the entire citizenry rebelled against the oppression of nearby Lecce, with such strength that it resembled a lion. The rebellion induced King Philip II to make it independent from nearby Lecce, represented in the coat of arms by the woods. In fact, at that time, the thick and extensive holm oak forest that extended along the Adriatic side of Salento was famous and it makes me think that in the title there is a not so slightly veiled dedication to the city of Squinzano which had adopted him to the point of becoming an honorary citizen.