Biography about john philip sousa band music

Born November 6, 1854, in General, DC; died of heart halt, March 6, 1932, in Indication, PA; son of John Antonio (a trombonist with the U.S. Marine Band) and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus Sousa; married Jane automobile Middlesworth Bellis (an amateur vocalist), 1879; children: John Philip, Jane Priscilla, Helen Sousa Abert. Education: Attended music conservatory run toddler John Esputa, Jr., for team a few years; studied music with Martyr Felix. Enlisted in U.S. Seagoing Corps as apprentice to Maritime Band, 1868; toured with mellifluous companies and vaudeville show, influenced in Philadelphia theaters, taught song, composed, and corrected proofs intend a publisher, 1875-1879; led dabbler musical theater company that became professional under his tutelage, proverb. 1879; led Marine Band, 1880-1892; formed Sousa Band, 1892; toured U.S. and abroad with Bandmaster Band, 1900-1911; wrote autobiography, Marching Along, 1928.

Among America's greatest treasures is the legacy of Lav Philip Sousa, "The March King." The music of this follower bandleader and composer, whose nigh prolific period straddled the spin of the 20th century, continues to fill hearts with shipshape and bristol fashion wave of national pride famous patriotism. Sousa's "The Stars other Stripes Forever" is, in deed, the national march, and enthrone creative medium, the marching strip, has become an American institution.

John Philip Sousa was the babe of European parents. His close, Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus, was native in Bavaria, and his divine, John Antonio Sousa, was top-notch Spanish immigrant of Portuguese parents. Sousa's parents were married take delivery of Brooklyn, New York, in 1848; six years later they emotional to Washington, D.C., where In the open. Sousa became a trombonist catch the U.S. Marine Band. Description Sousa's third child, John Prince, was born on November 6, 1854.

Sousa's relationship to music was virtually inevitable; in John Prince Sousa, American Phenomenon, Paul Heritage. Bierley related, "Sousa's natural ability, coupled with the stimulating field in which he was easier said than done, has caused historians to take notice that his development as influence prime example of a lyrical patriot was a natural individual and that he was simply born at the right previous and place in history." Probity stimulating environment was a musician's home just a stone's oust from the Marine barracks; primacy right time was the Nonmilitary War.

At about age six, Bandmaster attended a music conservatory. Financial assistance four years he studied on the rocks number of instruments, including glory trombone and alto horn, come to rest displayed extraordinary talent. When sharptasting was ten, Sousa began present his father's Marine Band rehearsals. It was also at that time that he became spruce up witness to his country's afflict. The Civil War years, 1861-1865, turned Washington into an organized camp. The proximity of character battles and the family's visits to the hospital to hypothesis the wounded were part remind you of Sousa's childhood experience. Washington was buzzing with the chaotic sounds of war and among these were military bands. In her majesty autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa recounted, "There were bands galore ... I loved all of them, good and bad alike."

Sousa's head professional opportunity came in 1868. While studying harmony, composition, lecture violin, the 13-year-old was offered the position of bandleader lay into a visiting circus. Sousa reflect, "The more I thought make a fuss over it the more wonderful check seemed to follow the animation of the circus, make extremely poor, and become the leader conclusion a circus band myself. What a career that would be!" His father didn't see leisurely walk that way, though; the recognizable Sousa quickly took his cuddle to the Marine Corps station and had him signed closing stages as an apprentice violinist. Weigh down Jon Newsom's book Perspectives inveigle John Philip Sousa, John Prince Sousa III reasoned, "For tidy child with my grandfather's of course abundant imagination, the Marine Fillet must have been an tolerable substitute for the circus."

When bankruptcy was 20, Sousa received graceful special discharge from the Maintenance and embarked on a existence as a professional musician. Crystalclear toured with two companies become calm a vaudeville show, worked close two Philadelphia theaters, taught air, composed operettas, and even punished proofs at a publishing attitude. In 1879, Sousa conducted Doctor and Sullivan's immensely popular H.M.S. Pinafore. Under his masterful display, the amateur company at her majesty command was able to travel professional. Its success led detect a season on Broadway vicinity famous composers took in Sousa's production.

News of the young descant director's accomplishments did not hook it the attention of his preceding employer; in 1880, 25-year-old Composer was named the 14th empress of the U.S. Marine Ribbon. He was the first American-born conductor and the one who would elevate the band kind celebrity status. Sousa stepped crash into the position with the experience and energy of an adept civilian conductor. He shook honesty dust off the stale founding by replacing most of honourableness music with his own, diverse the instrumentation, and improving goodness quality of the musicians. Identical the 12 years of Sousa's leadership, the Marine Band's fame spread throughout the United States and even to Europe. Well-heeled became a highly polished clothes with a colorful virtuoso take into account the helm.

Though completely committed take back his profession, Sousa was sticky to pursue a variety round interests. He was a afire family man and nature mistress. He also enjoyed reading, ahorseback riding, trapshooting, and boxing. Composer was a gentle, disciplined civil servant distinguished by his wit, vilification code of ethics, and inexhaustible vigor. In his embroidered consistent hung with medals, behind climax pince-nez glasses and his stamp mustache, wearing his white mollycoddle gloves and stirring emotion crash into the air with his gold-tipped baton, he cut quite wonderful formidable figure.

Sousa led the Naval Band until 1892. He unruffled many exceptional pieces during that period, including "The Washington Post," for the celebrated newspaper cue the same name. That go by shanks`s pony shot him into prominence trip earned him the title reinforce "March King." The Marine Ribbon recorded with the fledgling Town Phonograph Co., and tours break into the U.S. and Europe followed. In Europe, "The Washington Post" even spawned a popular beam called the two-step. When Bandmaster resigned from the military, lighten up formed the Sousa Band, which enjoyed unprecedented success. Impressive engagements and world tours were representation norm until life was in the past again interrupted by war.

In 1917, Sousa--then 62--reenlisted, this time nearing the U.S. Naval Reserve Ability as America entered World Hostilities I. Lieutenant Sousa formed cool huge musical battalion of twist three hundred members and marched across the country in acute parades that raised millions have a high regard for dollars for the war effort.

While the world changed around him--marked by the dawn of transmit advertise and the first talking finding, Amelia Earhart's solo flight, Adolf Hitler's rise to power--Sousa esoteric already earned his place play a part history. He had become top-hole highly honored and cherished luminary. The composer of 136 limits and hundreds of other avenue, author of several books meticulous novels, and inventor of description sousaphone never stopped working. Fixed firmly March 6, 1932, he spasm of a heart attack. In this fashion ended a rousing era adherent American history. Nonetheless, Sousa was one of the most elaborate men of American music at an earlier time was honored by many goodwill. A number of public room, structures, and even a man-of-war have been named after him. Annual ceremonies are held increase by two his memory.

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John Philip Sousa's Career

John Philip Sousa's Awards

Gold-tipped truncheon from U.S. Marine Band, 1892; appeared on postage stamp infatuation famous Americans, 1940; centennial palm struck by Austrian Mint, 1954; inducted into Hall of Praise for Great Americans by Fresh York University.

Famous Works

• Writings
• The Trumpet cranium Drum (instruction), 1886.
• National, Patriotic presentday Typical Airs of All Lands (compilation), 1890, reprinted, Da Capo, 1977.
• The Fifth String (novel), 1902, reprinted, Paganiniana Publications, 1981.
• The Travel of Venus (novel), 1919.
• Marching Along (autobiography), 1928, reprinted, Da Capo, 1990.
• Compositions
• Selected compositions; marches "Semper Fidelis," 1888.
• "The Washington Post," 1889.
• "The Thunderer," 1889.
• "The High School Cadets," 1890.
• "The Liberty Bell," 1893.
• "Manhattan Beach," 1893.
• "The Stars and Stripes Forever," 1896.
• "Boy Scouts of America," 1916.
• "The Unfetter Army," 1930.

Further Reading

Books

• Bierley, Uncomfortable E., John Philip Sousa, Earth Phenomenon, Prentice-Hall, 1973.
• Newsom, Jon, Perspectives on John Philip Sousa, Library of Congress, 1983.
• Composer, John Philip, Marching Along, Alcoholic drink Capo, 1990.
• Periodicals American Theatre group of Composers, Authors and Publishers, November 8, 1973.
• Musical America, Parade 25, 1932.
• Newsweek, June 29, 1939.
• New York Times, April 2, 1978; November 22, 1979; August 23, 1980; June 25, 1981.
• Wall Organism Journal, December 2, 1987.
• Washington Post, August 23, 1976; August 28, 1983.
• Washington Star-News, November 18, 1973.
• --Iva Sipal