Zach YounieMrs.
TrearSophomore English21 January 2018The March King – John Philip Sousa The air is crisp… The faint sound of a marching band is heard, like a whisper to the ears. They are playing a song, a melody, more specifically it is a march. Written by none other than “The March King” John Philip Sousa. From his youth to his golden ages he maintained a passion for music, Not only performing, but also composing and conducting. Sousa would later conduct a plethora of profesional bands. John Philip Sousa, known for his Famous March’s and Composing for the Marine band, was born on November Sixth of 1854 in Washington D.C. Coming from Spain and Bavarian roots, Sousa had an immense number of siblings along with his mother Marie Elizabeth Trinkus and father John Antonio Sousa.
As Sousa flourished he attended public school until he reached the age of 13. For then the young man applied for the position of a “Boy” or Apprentice to a Private Conservatory; as well as The Marine Band. Over the course of his boyhood he learned a wide variety of instruments. From instruments such as the petite Piccolo flute to the massive Helicon Tuba. As Sousa aged his assortment of accomplishments grew. Such accomplishments as “US composer and bandmaster”, the composition of 137 marches, for example “Semper Fidelis” (1888) and “The Stars and Stripes Forever” (1896). Lastly Sousa composed numerous operettas, of which the most famous El Capitan (1896),” (Gale).
“From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else,” (Sousa). From Sousa’s early childhood he yearned to become a musician and perform his passion. Sousa carried his passion with him until the day of his passing. At the grand age of 77 due to Congestive Heart failure, Sousa passed in a hotel room.
A few hours prior to his passing Sousa was rehearsing for a concert that was to be held the next afternoon. Leaving behind his tremendous legacy that will forever live on. John Philip Sousa didn’t particularly enjoy the invention of the Gramophone.
In the words of Sousa himself “in front of every house in the summer evenings you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or the old songs. To-day you hear these infernal machines going night and day,”(Saint-Amour). He feared that it would cause the music writing industry to become further modernized and easily accessible at home. Why would one go out to the concert hall to listen to a Symphonic band and orchestra; when one could go to the store and buy a record of the same songs being performed. Then to have the ability to listen to all of the tunes at the same price and at the listeners leisure.
His logic for believing this is ‘”Music would forfeit its place at the center of communal life; even the vocal chord,” he warned, “would become a vestigial organ, eliminated by a process of evolution,”‘(Saint-Amour). Due to the human race no longer needing to sing songs as pastime, evolution will run its course removing the vocal chords for their use is no longer needed. Many believed that Sousa’s only passion was for music, leaving the music industries ignorant about his Trapping history. His love for the sport began in 1906. In fact, as Sousa was on his world tour for his passion of music; he wrote an article for the London Newspapers about trap shooting techniques.John’s career involved a large amount of travel, whether it be land or water. As a result he traveled around Europe, The United Kingdom, And the United states during the early 1900’s.
In the span of Sousa’s life time he wrote over One Hundred and Thirty Seven marches for military bands, city bands, and other marching band as well as writing at least Fifteen Operettas. His career mainly consisted of writing music. According to Sousa, he states, “I can almost always write music; at any hour of the twenty-four, if I put pencil to paper, music comes,” (Sousa).
Apart from writing Operettas and marches Sousa also wrote an interpretation of the United States National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”. Sousa is vastly known for his work in writing “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” the United States National march. Sousa had a gift for being able to balance the sound of Woodwinds and Brasswinds into perfect harmony in his bands. Making Playing in a Sousa band an honor and a privilege one would not forget in their lifetime. Sousa would weed out the lesser players to build ultimately a timeless sounding feel. He took the U.S. Marine Band on tours of the United states, and after his discharge from the armed forces he made a civilian band.
An auditionable band where the public could join the ensemble or the could simply watch the band perform entirely free. Sousa took his civilian band on a European tour and later would take them on a World tour.From one side of the world to the other, John Philip Sousa travelled bringing musical literature far and wide. From “Semper Fidelis”, “The Washington Post”, and “The Stars And Stripes Forever” which are a few of his famous marches, to his Fifteen Operettas such as “El Capitan”, “The Smuggler”, and “The Queen Of Hearts”. The impact that has been left on the Marching and Concert Band community as well and the Nation of North America is phenomenal. Whether one is at a Football game, Basketball game or even a concert hall they are almost bound to hear a piece composed by none other than John Philip Sousa. As if Sousa was not already an outstanding composer and Idol to many, the youth of his final years became infatuated with his compositions.
His band grew due to the increase of youth participation, nearly doubling in size. By the turn of the twentieth century Sousa had written exactly 57 marches. As he turned 74 Sousa finished with his composition of 80 more unforgettable marches. Leaving behind his massive contribution of 134 marches, that are played with the same integrity today. Considered a delicacy throughout the World, Sousa’s marches are unforgettable. From the mouth of the great Maestro himself, “Marches must be as free from padding as a marble statue,” (Sousa).
For just by ushering the sounds of one of his marches it should be able to withhold enough power to stand alone. As well as being able to be the last song played bring an amazed crowd to awe, and leaving them wanting more.
