JOHN PHILIP SOUSA - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot - Happy 150th Birthday JPS

David Lovrien ^ | July 4, 2004 | HAL9000

[HAL9000]

Click here to visit a great web site about John Philip Sousa - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot

Biography - MIDI and MP3 Music Files

[HAL9000]

Happy 150th Birthday JPS!

Happy Independence Day!

God Bless America.

[asgardshill]

He doesn't look a day over 120.

But the sentiment stands - kudos to an innovative musician whose work represents us.

[decimon]

1867: His father enlisted him in the Marines at age 13 as an apprentice after he attempted to run away to join a circus band.

1872: Published first composition, "Moonlight on the Potomac Waltzes".

1875: Discharged from Marines. Began performing (on violin), touring and eventually conducting theater orchestras. Conducted Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore on Broadway.

[Mister Baredog]

Bump

[supercat]

For what did Sousa write the Washington Post March? Great tune, but for some reason nowadays it seems like the lyrics should be something like [nb: I came up with the "*" line first]

Gee, as anyone can see,
the most prestigious paper in the world has come to be

A liberal rag to line the birdcage.*
The Washington post has come to that
as surely as Lincoln wore a hat.

So now I must write more silly verbage.
Unless as I fear, the song has a drear-y end about here--or here--or here.

[HAL9000]

That was pretty good. Very Pythonesque.