John Philip Sousa
American bandmaster and composer John Philip Sousa did more than anyone to elevate the status of the military wind band. Sousa's boyhood coincided with the American Civil War. The sounds of military bands were constantly in the air. His first musical training was on the violin, and his father instructed him on several wind instruments. At 13 the lure of a visiting circus was a powerful incentive for the boy to join up as a musician; however, his astute father, himself a bandsman, caught wind of the lad's intention and procured an apprenticeship in the Marine Corps Band for his son. It proved to be a happy move for all involved. The young musician sharpened his skills in that musical organization called the "President's own." He composed his first march, Salutation, at 16.
At 18, Sousa began to play violin in various theater orchestras. In 1880, Sousa was appointed leader of the Marine Corps Band, which he would serve for 12 years, under five presidents. He now began to hit his stride with his own marches, turning out such classics as Semper Fidelis, The Washington Post, The Thunderer, and High School Cadets. In 1892 Sousa, resigning his position with the Marine Corps, organized his own band, known simply as Sousa's Band. Through national, European, and world tours, the band's success was nothing short of a phenomenon, Sousa receiving many honors and decorations from the royal families of Great Britain and Europe.
He continued turning out his series of comic operas, including the highly successful El capitan (1895). From his pen flowed songs, symphonic poems, and more marches, this period seeing The Liberty Bell (1893), King Cotton (1895), Hands Across the Sea (1899) and, most notably, The Stars and Stripes Forever (1897).
With the entry of the United States into World War I, however, Sousa laid aside civilian activity and assumed command of all naval bands. In 1920, he reorganized his band and resumed touring. Sousa died while en route to conduct a high school band in Reading, PA.
Among his other achievements was his role as a founder of ASCAP. He also helped develop the sousaphone, a large tuba which features in parade bands. Ultimately, his compositions are his monument. But particularly it is the marches which endure. Sousa was not afraid to invest his marches with beautiful melody and unusual harmonies, placing them above being merely parade music. Sousa continued to explore within his chosen field until the end and many from his final decade such as The Gridiron Club and Sesquicentennial Exposition are remarkable for their inventiveness and vitality. The composer himself mused upon what constitutes the perfect march, stating that "it should make a man with a wooden leg step out." In virtually all of his creations in this field, Sousa passed this standard with flying colors.
© TiVo
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The University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble, Dec. 2, 2004
The University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
John Philip Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever! - Famous Marches for Military Band
Classical - Released by MSR Classics on 12 Aug 2010
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Stars & Stripes Forever
Country - Released by Whole Earth on 21 Mar 2008
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Coastal Communities Concert Band - Highlights from 2008
Coastal Communities Concert Band
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2008
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Solano Winds - Celebrating the Legacy of Bob Briggs
Solano Winds Community Concert Band
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2009
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The Invincible Eagle
Classical - Released by MFF Records on 28 May 2020
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Solano Winds - Land
Solano Winds Community Concert Band
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2009
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The Definitive John Philip Sousa
Film Soundtracks - Released by Carter Lane - OMiP on 2 Dec 2012
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Parade Marches Volume 11
Philharmonic Wind Orchestra Marc Reift
Classical - Released by Marcophon on 1 Sep 2015
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Parade Marches Volume 10
Philharmonic Wind Orchestra Marc Reift
Classical - Released by Marcophon on 1 Sep 2015
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Mantovani Concert Spectacular
Classical - Released by Radio Tower Records on 4 Nov 2014
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Patriotic Classics for Kids: Celebrate America
The Parade Brass & Symphony Orchestra And Bedros Papazian
Classical - Released by Cobra Entertainment LLC on 28 Jun 2011
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Mississippi State University Wind Ensemble March 2, 2007
Mississippi State University Wind Ensemble
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2007
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The John Philip Sousa Band in Concert
Classical - Released by Everest Records on 10 Oct 1977
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Semper Fidelis (Live in Concert Nov. 16 2023 (Single Version))
Rochester Community Band, John Philip Sousa
Alternative & Indie - Released by Joel Denney Music on 27 Nov 2023
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The University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble in Concert, 12-02-04
The University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble
Classical - Released by Soundset on 1 Jan 2004
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Solano Winds Community Concert Band - Stage & Screen
Solano Winds Community Concert Band
Classical - Released by Tresona on 1 Jan 2012
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The March King Volume II
Country - Released by Legacy International on 1 Jan 2006
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Sousa Marches (1897-1930)
Classical - Released by Unchained Melodie on 1 May 2011
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The Stars and Stripes Forever (Electronic Version)
Electronic - Released by Electro Roma on 15 Mar 2023
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