And Then We Carry On was commissioned by Tim Robichaux and the Edward Douglas White Catholic High School Band to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the school. The work features a correlation of four hymns that the school celebrates: Queen of Heaven, O, Sacred Heart, the Alma Mater, and the Fight Song. These hymns are woven together in a way that chronicles the history of the school. Queen of Heaven is a hymn that is sung by the Sisters of Mount Carmel, a religious organization exclusive to women of Catholic faith. Because they established the Mount Carmel Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1855, elements of the sisters’ hymn appear first. O, Sacred Heart is a hymn that is sung by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, a religious organization exclusive to men of Catholic faith. They established the Thibodaux College in 1891, and elements of their hymn appear second. In 1965 the construction of a new school that would combine the two schools was already under way, but Hurricane Betsy struck and destroyed the two original institutions, which led to the early completion of Edward Douglas White Catholic High School. Having created a strong sense of build between the two hymns, the sudden change of pace that the hurricane creates is rather evident in the piece. Ultimately the music culminates in a serene setting of the school’s Alma Mater. The work concludes with the proud singing of the line: “In God we place our goals in life, and then we carry on.” As the last note of the singing section is held by the band, the sound of the school bell can be heard ringing in the future of the school.