The President's Own United States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band, also known by the moniker "The President's Own," is an organization of about 160 members, 130 of whom are musicians. The USMB also includes the Marine Chamber Orchestra, various Marine chamber ensembles, the Marine Jazz Orchestra, and the country music offshoot Free Country. These ensembles typically perform more than 500 concert events each year, including at the White House, Pentagon ceremonies, state funerals, and various other government and public events. Not surprisingly, the number of musicians appearing at an event can vary widely, with some performances featuring as few as two or three members, and others, like the spectacular displays put on for presidential inaugurations typically involving about 100 players. Bandmembers serve at least four years, and some as long as 20 or more. Though they are members of the United States Marines, they do not receive basic training or most other military training. Their repertoire is obviously broad, taking in John Philip Sousa and other American composers, as well as Hindemith, Prokofiev, Ives, Stravinsky, and, via transcription, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, and a host of others.
The USMB was founded in accordance with a July 11, 1798 Act of Congress. It is thus not only the oldest American military band, but the oldest professional American musical organization. Although the USMB made its debut on August 21, 1800, its first major concert was given at the White House at the invitation of President John Adams on January 1, 1801. The ensemble also played for the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson that year (March 4) and has played for every presidential inauguration since.
There have been 27 directors of the USMB up through 2007, the first being William Farr, and the most famous being its 14th, composer John Philip Sousa, who led the group from 1880-1892. He is generally credited with building the ensemble into the finest American band of its time. Other famous directors include: John R. Bourgeois (1979-1996), Timothy W. Foley (1996-2004), and Michael J. Colburn (2004-2014).
On May 17, 1922, the USMB appeared on its first radio broadcast and thereafter gave frequent performances over the airwaves. Over the years the ensemble grew in prominence and expanded in size, making numerous recordings and appearing at countless televised events. Its recordings are available on the USMB's own label and from Naxos, Albany Records, Musical Heritage Society, and others.
© Robert Cummings /TiVo
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President's Own United States Marine Band: The Bicentennial Collection
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jun 17, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Overtures Vol. 2
Colonel John R. Bourgeois, The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on May 8, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music of Richard Wagner
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Oct 15, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
100 Famous Marches
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Oct 30, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Be Glad Then, America
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Sara Dell'Omo, Jason K. Fettig
Classical - Released by Altissimo on May 27, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
United States Military and Patriotic Favorites: US Marines Classics Vol.1
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by 2Thumbz Entertainment on Jun 29, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
United States Marine Band: Great Marches Not by John Philip Sousa, Vol. 1
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Albert F. Schoepper, Timothy T. Foley, John R. Bourgeois, Timothy W. Foley, Frederick Fennell
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Sep 5, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Variations sur "America" et autres thèmes
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Timothy W. Foley
Classical - Released by Naxos on Aug 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
President's Own United States Marine Band: Live in Concert
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Miscellaneous - Released by Altissimo on May 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
United States Marine Band: Hail To the Chief - Songs of the Presidents
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jan 11, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gould: An American Salute
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Michael J. Colburn
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Sep 30, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.P. Sousa's Marches & Dances
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Film Soundtracks - Released by Arts Productions Ltd on Nov 7, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
President'S Own United States Marine Band: Uncommon Valor
The President's Own United States Marine Band, John R. Bourgeois
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jan 1, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
President's Own United States Marine Band: Retrospective
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Timothy W. Foley
Classical - Released by Altissimo on May 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sousa: Deep Cuts, Vol. 1
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jun 9, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Carmen Symphony
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Gail Gillespie, José Serebrier, Leslye Barrett, Lisa Kadala, Christopher McFarlane
Classical - Released by Naxos on Feb 22, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sousa: Deep Cuts, Vol. 2
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Jack T. Kline
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Aug 14, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
United States Marine Band: The Blessings of Liberty (Alfred Hart Miles - Julia Ward Howe - Robert Crawford)
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on May 26, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sousa: Deep Cuts, Vol. 3
The President's Own United States Marine Band, Jack T. Kline
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Sep 11, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
President's Own United States Marine Band: Courtly Dances (Bedrich Smetana - Louis Moreau Gottschalk - Giacomo Meyerbeer)
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Semper Fi!: The Best of the United States Marine Band
The President's Own United States Marine Band
Classical - Released by Altissimo on Jul 8, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo