Rarely in the annals of American history does one encounter a man so well known, so admired, so respected and so loved by millions as John Philip Sousa, “The March King.” It is said that he was more thought of and more famous than even some presidents of the United States.
Early Years
Sousa was born November 6, 1854 in Washington, D.C. the third of ten children. His parents: John Antonio Sousa was born in Sevilla, Spain of Portuguese parents and his mother was Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus from Bavaria. His father was a trombone player in the United States Marine Band known as “The President’s Own.” Sousa’s aptitude and talent was recognized at an early age. His father enlisted him in the Marine Band as a boy apprentice musician when he was thirteen years old – after he tried to run away to join a circus band. Sousa went to public schools but privately studied violin, piano, other wind instruments, harmony and composition. Sousa married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis on December 30, 1879. They had three children: John Philip, Jr., Jane Priscilla and Helen Sousa.
Military Service
Sousa established himself as a first rate musician playing violin in local theater orchestras and was soon conducting them. In 1880, at the age of 26, Sousa was appointed conductor of the Marine Band, a post he held until 1892 when he resigned to form his own band. He led the Marine Band under five presidents. During World War I he was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S Naval Reserve and led the Navy Band at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago. Instead of accepting pay he donated his Naval Salary to the Sailors’ and Marines’ Relief Fund. After returning to his own band at the end of the war, he continued to wear his naval uniform for most of his concerts and other public appearances.
Sousa’s Band
He attracted the country’s best musicians and with Sousa’s leadership the band became one of the finest musical organizations in America and the world. They appeared at the Paris Exposition in 1900 and after making four European tours they were booked for a world tour in 1910-11. Sousa hired Herbert L. Clarke, cornet, Arthur Pryor, trombone, and Simone Mantia, euphonium, and others who were some of the most celebrated solo artists of the time. Sousa did not like recorded music. It was Sousa who coined the phrase “canned music” in 1906. This was due to lack of personal contact with the audience. When the band did make a recording Sousa usually would not conduct. He finally consented to conduct the band for a radio broadcast in 1929. They were an immediate hit.
Music
Probably the most famous march in the world, The Stars and Stripes Forever is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. By an act of Congress it is the National March of the United States of America. Other great and popular Sousa marches are Washington Post, El Capitan, Semper Fidelis, The Thunderer plus many more. Do not be deceived by the moniker “March King.” True, he composed 136 marches, many well-known and played throughout the world to this day. But that was just a small portion of his compositional output. Basically a humble, religious man, his musical compositions reflect that he was truly inspired and he stated that his melodies came from a “Higher Power.”
Besides marches he also composed: 15 operettas; 15 suites; two descriptive pieces; 70 songs; seven other vocal works; 11 waltzes; 12 dance form pieces; 14 humoresques; 27 band fantasies; three orchestra fantasies; 6 incidental pieces; 4 overtures and over 300 arrangements and transcriptions.
Sousa was also an author. He penned seven books as well as his autobiography “Marching Along” and over 130 articles for various periodicals and newspapers.
He was a man of many talents and interests including an expert horseman of championship caliber. Surprisingly he was also an outstanding trap shooter and founded the first national trap shooting organization.
Touring with his band continued until his death. Sousa was quoted as saying, ”When you hear of Sousa retiring, you will hear of Sousa dead!” He died in Reading, Pennsylvania March 6, 1932. He was 77 years old and is buried with his family in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington.
When Sousa died the world lost a giant in the field of musical composition and band directing. There may never be one like him again. He was truly one of a kind.
Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.
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