Fiesta is one of five Symphonic Dances commissioned by the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 1964. Each of the five dances represents the spirit of a different time and place in the history of San Antonio. This dance reflects the excitement and color of the city's many Mexican celebrations, what Williams called "the pageantry of Latin American celebration – street bands, bull fights, bright costumes, the colorful legacy of a proud people." The introductory brass fanfare creates an atmosphere of tense anticipation, while the bells, solo trumpet, and woodwinds herald the arrival of an approaching festival. The brass announce the matador's arrival to the bullring, and the finale evokes a joyous climax to the festivities. Williams rescored this work for band,