Sousa Marches for Memorial Day

Dallas Wind Symphony ^ | unknown | unknown

[pttttt]

. . .

A Brief Biography of Mr. Sousa

1854: Born Washington, DC, Nov. 6. John Philip was 3rd of 10 children of John Antonio Sousa (born in Spain of Portuguese parents) and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (born in Bavaria). John Philip's father, Antonio, played trombone in the U.S. Marine band. He grew up around military band music.

1860: Began musical study around age six, studying voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn.

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.

1879: In February, met Jane van Middlesworth Bellis during Pinafore rehearsals; they were married December 30, 1879.

1880: Returned to Washington in September to assume leadership of the US Marine Band.

1880-1892: Conducted "The President's Own", serving under presidents Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, Arthur and Harrison. After two successful but limited tours with the Marine Band in 1891 and 1892, promoter David Blakely convinced Sousa to resign and organize a civilian concert band.

1892: The first Sousa Band concert was performed September 26 at Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey. Two days earlier, bandleader Patrick Gilmore had died in St. Louis. Nineteen of Gilmore's former musicians eventually joined Sousa's band, including Herbert L. Clarke (cornet) and E. A. Lefebre (saxophone). The original name of the band was "Sousa's New Marine Band", but criticism from Washington forced the withdrawal of the name.

1895: Sousa's first successful operetta, El Capitan, debuts.

1896: Sousa's promoter David Blakely dies while Sousa and his wife are on vacation in Europe. On the return voyage, Sousa receives the inspiration for The Stars and Stripes Forever.

1900: The Sousa Band tours Europe.

1901: Second European tour.

1905: Third European tour.

1910: World Tour: New York, Great Britain, Canary Islands, South-Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, Canada.

1917: During World War I, Sousa joins the US Naval Reserve at age 62. He is assigned the rank of lieutenant and paid a salary of $1 per month.

1919-1932: After the war, Sousa continued to tour with his band. He championed the cause of music education, received several honorary degrees and fought for composers' rights, testifying before Congress in 1927 and 1928.

1932: Sousa dies at age 77, after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band in Reading, Pennsylvania. The last piece he conducted was "The Stars and Stripes Forever".

 

[pttttt]

The 1917 entry could use some filling out. On the US entry into WWI, Sousa gave up what had been a superstar performing career and offered to help the war effort any way he could, including enlisting as a private. He ended up training - without pay - numerous US Navy Band musicians at Great Lakes.

He lives on in his marches, which brilliantly capture the spirit of the United States.

[strela]

The Great Man's last name is no coincidence, is it?

John Philip SoUSA

[yarddog]

I absolutely love Sousa's marches.

I bought a tape a few years ago of the Boston Pops doing Sousa marches. I eventually had to quit listening to it because I can't get them out of my head once I have played them.

Several of the marches which were not as popular are every bit as good as the more famous ones.

[Betteboop]

My mother told me once, not too many years before she died, that when she was a little girl, she went to Prospect Park (she grew up in Brooklyn)with her family and saw Sousa and his band playing!! That must have been so exciting---well, it was for me to hear the story!!

[yarddog]

Sousa's band played at least once in my small hometown in Florida.

DeFuniak Springs had the Winter headquarters for Chautauqua. There was a large auditorium on the lake, part of it is still there.

Of course Chautauqua, New York was the main setting.

[SamiGirl]

Sousa is an American treasure.

[annyokie]

Many years ago, on the 4th of July, I played Sousas' "Stars and Stripes Forever" performed by the Boston Pops on my stereo, my windows wide open (no air-conditioning back then) and heard the applause of my neighbor who asked for an encore.

[pbear8]

"The Stars and Stripes Forever".

Easily the best march ever written.

[VOA]

1932: Sousa dies at age 77, after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band in Reading, Pennsylvania.
The last piece he conducted was "The Stars and Stripes Forever".

As they say in Hollywood - you couldn't have written that story.

Back when PBS still had the Boston Pops July 4th Concert, I ALWAYS made sure
I got to see the closing number where that huge American flag would get
unrolled in the finale of The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Always has, does and make me feel better about this country, no matter
what foolishness is going on.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Last week I went to my two nieces' band concerts, and they both played Sousa's marches. One is in 6th grade, and the other is in 10th. Their music teachers did a commendable job.

[yarddog]

Bump for the greatest, and I don't mean Muhammed Ali.

[pttttt]

Several of the marches which were not as popular are every bit as good as the more famous ones.

Here's a great one in RealAudio, written in 1894: The Directorate March.

[dsutah]

My younger daughter took band through Jr.High, and into High School. She also took marching band during the summer after 9th grade. She played both flute and piccolo. They played some Sousa's marches also in our "Pioneer Days" parade in Ogden, UT. Also, she played in a July 4th parade in North Ogden, UT.

She really enjoyed playing in that! However, the uniforms they had to wear were much too hot! The ones they wear now are much cooler to wear. The thing is, she's out of school now, she's 22!

Aside from that, one of her Grandpas was in the Marine Corps many years ago(now deceased). He would act as a both a guard at the gate and usher, alternately, during the summer when they have the parades at the Marine Headquarters. That was just wonderful to see and hear! I wish we could go back and see it again!

He also had a couple of records of Marine Band music that we listened to many times. I don't know what condition they are in now. If I could find them, I'd try to find them on c.d.

[pttttt]

Last week I went to my two nieces' band concerts, and they both played Sousa's marches. One is in 6th grade, and the other is in 10th. Their music teachers did a commendable job.

Outstanding. Many Sousa marches are difficult for bands at that level as unabridged versions. The Dallas Wind Symphony mentions some that are more accessible. One good one which isn't heard that often is an early march, Black Horse Troop (see Dallas Wind Symphony links - Black Horse Troop March and others.)