John Philip Sousa The March King

John Philip Sousa nicknamed “The March King” composed 136 Marches “The Stars and Stripes Forever” Father played trombone in the U.S. Marine band. grew up around the military band and music.

Birthplace – National Shrine born November 6, 1854 in Washington D.C. To John Antonio Sousa and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus. the 3rd of 10 children. had 5 sisters and 4 brothers Limited formal education

Musical education… John Philip began studying music at the age of 6. These studies included: voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn He also began studying harmony and composition at this young age as a pupil of John Esputa and George Felix Benkert.

At the age of 13, a circus leader overheard Sousa practicing his violin and offered him a job with his troupe. His father did not think this would be a good livelihood and instead enlisted him in the US. Marine Corp

Developed a tremendous reputation conducting the U.S. Marine Band. Set a standard that has yet to be surpassed. “One of the exciting aspects of this celebration is the recognition of an American composer who, in his specialized sphere, is so widely accepted as the quintessence of the American spirit in music.” William Schuman

Some of his works… Marches the best known of which are: Stars and Stripes Forever Semper Fidelis The Washington Post The Liberty Bell Daughters of Texas The Thunderer King Cotton Manhattan Beach March 10 Operettas including: El Capitan The Queen of Hearts The Smuggglers Desiree Writings: The Fifth String - a novel Pipedown Sandy - a novel The Transit of Venus - a novel

He led "The President's Own" band under five presidents from Rutherford B. Hayes to Benjamin Harrison. Rutherford B. HayesBenjamin Harrison Played at two Inaugural Balls, those of James A. Garfield in 1881, and Benjamin Harrison in 1889James A. Garfield Benjamin Harrison

Sousaphone Developed in the 1890s at the request of Sousa. hélicons - an instrument that can be wrapped around a players body thus facilitating marching activities hélicons History is unclear as to who the first sousaphone was developed by in the early 1890’s - either J.W. Pepper or C.G. ConnJ.W. Pepper C.G. Conn The new instrument known as the Sousaphone, would have an oversized bell pointing straight up, but otherwise would be like a normal hélicon

On tour in Paris…. Sousa in 1900: “During my concerts at the Paris Exposition in 1900,” he said, “‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’ seemed to make a deep impression on the French people, and they spoke of it as the Musique Americaine with a greater frequency than they did of any other composition. One night, at a dinner, a brilliant Frenchwoman said to me that the march seemed to epitomize the character of our people. ‘For every time I hear it,’ she confessed, ‘it seems as if I can see the American Eagle throwing arrows into the Aurora Borealis.”

Sousa quotes….. - "Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains." - "Sincere composers believe in God." - "When you hear of Sousa retiring, you will hear of Sousa dead." - "Remember always that the composer's pen is still mightier than the bow of the violinist; in you lie all the possibilities of the creation of beauty."

Eccentricity of genius! Eccentricity of genius! "These talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy... in front of every house in the summer evenings, you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or old songs. Today you hear these infernal machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal cord left. The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape."house

US Postage Stamp, Issue of of Memorialized on a U.S. Stamp

Sousa died of heart failure on March 6, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania at the age of 77. He is buried in the Congressional Cemetery, in Washington DC. Fittingly, the last piece he conducted was "The Stars and Stripes Forever", at a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band the on March 5, 1932

Fittingly…. Sousa Quote “I don’t believe in an alliance between America and any other country,” he said. “We are strong and powerful and prosperous enough on our own account, without making alliances with anybody or anything.