NationMaster - Encyclopedia: John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known particularly for American military marches. Because of his prominence, he is known as "The March King". is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Download high resolution version (2607x3762, 1876 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Berks Countyâ€™s location in Pennsylvania Readingâ€™s location in Berks County Country State County Berks Founded 1748 Government - Mayor Thomas McMahon Area - City 10. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... USN redirects here. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... A conductor conducting at a ceremony A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in late 18th century Western Europe. ... American march music is march music written and/or performed in the United States of America. ... A march king is defined as a United States bandmaster and composer of military marches (1854-1932) (WordNet). ...

Biography

John was born in Washington, D.C., to John António de Sousa and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus. His parents were of Portuguese, Spanish and Bavarian (German) descent; his grandparents were Portuguese refugees. Sousa started his music education, playing the violin, as a pupil of John Esputa and G. F. Benkert for harmony and musical composition at the age of six. He was found to have absolute pitch. When John reached the age of 13, his father, a trombonist in the Marine Band, enlisted his son in the United States Marine Corps as an apprentice. John served his apprenticeship for seven years, until 1875, and apparently learned to play all the wind instruments while honing his mettle with the violin. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2826x2000, 854 KB) Summary John Phillip Sousa and the Marine Corps Band, circa 1893 (http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2826x2000, 854 KB) Summary John Phillip Sousa and the Marine Corps Band, circa 1893 (http://www. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bavaria (disambiguation). ... Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. ... Harmony is the use and study of pitch simultaneity, and therefore chords, actual or implied, in music. ... Musical composition is a phrase used in a number of contexts, the most commonly used being a piece of music. ... Absolute pitch (AP), widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or sing a musical note without the benefit of a known reference. ... The United States Marine Band, colloquially known as The Presidents Own, was established by an Act of Congress on July 11, 1798, and is Americaâ€™s oldest professional musical organization. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ...

On December 30, 1879, he married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis. They had three children. First child was John Philip Sousa, Jr (1 April 1881 - 18 May 1937). Second was Jane Priscilla (7 Aug 1882 - 28 Oct 1958). Third was Helen (21 Jan 1887 - 14 Oct 1975). All three are buried in the John Philip Sousa plot in the Congressional cemetery. Jane joined the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1907.

Several years later, John left his apprenticeship to join a theatrical (pit) orchestra where he learned to conduct. He returned to the U.S. Marine Band as its head in 1880, and remained as its conductor until 1892. Sousa also led the marching band of Gonzaga College High School. A conductor conducting at a ceremony A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... The Presidents Own United States Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra, Marine Chamber Ensembles The Presidents Own United States Marine Band was established by an Act of Congress on July 11, 1798, and is America’s oldest professional musical organization. ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement â€“ usually some type of marching and other movements â€“ with their musical performance. ... Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, DC. The school is named in honor of St. ...

Sousa organized his own band in 1892. It toured widely, and in 1900, represented the United States at the Paris Exposition before touring Europe. Sousa repeatedly refused to conduct on the radio, fearing a lack of personal contact with the audience. He was finally persuaded to do so in 1929 and became a smash hit. Paris Exposition can refer to The French Industrial Exposition of 1844 The Paris Exposition of 1855, Exposition Universelle (1855) The Paris Exposition of 1867, Exposition Universelle (1867) The Paris Exposition or Paris Worlds Fair of 1878, Exposition Universelle (1878) The Paris Exposition of 1889, Exposition Universelle (1889) The Paris... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sousa died on March 6, 1932, in his room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. Berks Countyâ€™s location in Pennsylvania Readingâ€™s location in Berks County Country State County Berks Founded 1748 Government - Mayor Thomas McMahon Area - City 10. ...

Military Service

Sousa served in the US Marine Corps, first from 1868 to 1875 as an apprentice musician, and then as the head of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892; he was a Sergeant Major for most of his Marine service and was a Warrant Officer at the time he resigned. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... This article is about a military rank and position. ... For other uses of Warrant Officer, see Warrant Officer. ...

He volunteered to serve as a bandmaster in the US Army during the Spanish-American War but was unable to serve due to illness. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Kingdom of Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey MÃ¡ximo GÃ³mez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares RamÃ³n Blanco Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and...

During World War I, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve and led the Navy Band at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, Illinois. Being independently wealthy, he donated his entire naval salary minus one dollar a year 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. â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ... The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the reserve component of the United States Navy. ... An aerial view showing a special recruit graduation Pass in Review Ceremony held at Ross Field, Naval Training Center Great Lakes. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 606. ...

Music

Marches

Sousa wrote school songs for only four Universities in the country (including Marquette University and the University of Minnesota). The marching brass bass, or sousaphone, is named after him. The Gladiator is a work by John Philip Sousa, written in 1886 while Sousa was leader of the US Marine Band. ... Semper Fidelis is Latin for Always faithful. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The Washington Post* is a patriotic march composed by John Philip Sousa in 1889. ... The Thunderer is one of John Philip Sousas marches. ... The Liberty Bell is an American military march composed by famous bandmaster John Philip Sousa in 1893, and is considered one of his finest works. ... This article is about the television series. ... Manhattan Beach is an American march by John Philip Sousa (1854-1932). ... The Stars and Stripes Forever is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. ... El Capitan comes from John Philip Sousas first successful operetta with the same name. ... Hands Across the Sea is a patriotic/military march composed in 1899 by John Philip Sousa. ... A squad from the Corps of Cadets marches in formation to a football game The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is one of only two military organizations established as an integral part of a major United States civilian university; the other is Texas A&M University. ... The Highty Tighties march in the walk before the 2004 UVA game The Virginia Tech Regimental Band, also known as the Highty Tighties, VPI Cadet Band, or Band Company, is a military marching band and unit in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... U.S. Field Artillery is a patriotic military march of the U.S. Army written in 1917 by John Philip Sousa. ... The Gallant Seventh was John Philip Sousas most famous march in the 1920s. ... A member of the Syrian Corvettes group of Shriners participates in a Memorial Day parade The Shriners, or Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, are an Order appendant to Freemasonry. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Sousaphone player in Washington Square, New York City The sousaphone is a type of tuba often used in a marching band. ...

Operettas

These operetta which Gervase Hughes calls "notable" (1) also show a variety of French, Viennese and British influences. (In his younger days, Sousa made an orchestration of HMS Pinafore and played the first violin on the American tour of Jacques Offenbach.) The music of these operettas is light and cheerful. The Glass Blowers and Desirée have had revivals, the latter having been released on CD like El Capitan, the best known of them. El Capitan has been in production somewhere in the world ever since it was written and makes fun of false heroes. Still more outspoken against militarism is The Free Lance, the story of two kingdoms becoming united, which found its way to Germany (as "Der Feldhauptmann") by the time the Berlin Wall came down. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... El Capitan comes from John Philip Sousas first successful operetta with the same name. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: HMS Pinafore H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass that Loved a Sailor, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. ... Jacques Offenbach (20 June 1819 â€“ 5 October 1880) was a French composer and cellist of the Romantic era with German-Jewish descent and one of the originators of the operetta form. ...

Marches and waltzes have been derived from many of these stage-works. Sousa also composed the music for six operettas that were either unfinished or not produced: The Devils' Deputy, Florine, The Irish Dragoon, Katherine, The Victory, and The Wolf.

In addition, Sousa wrote The Mikado march, the elegant overture of Our Flirtations, a number of musical suites, etc. The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations. ...

Sousa the Freemason

One year after the 1882 Transit of Venus, Sousa was commissioned to compose a processional for the unveiling of a bronze statue of American physicist Joseph Henry, who had died in 1878. Henry, who had developed the first electric motor, was also the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The 2004 transit of Venus A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, obscuring a small portion of the Suns disk. ... Joseph Henry Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797 â€“ May 13, 1878) was a Scottish-American scientist who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ...

A Freemason, Sousa was fascinated by what the group considered mystical qualities in otherwise natural phenomena. According to Sten Odenwald of the NASA IMAGE Science Center[1], this played a significant role in the selection of the time and date of the performance, April 19, 1883, at 4:00 P.M. Dr. Odenwald points out that Venus and Mars, invisible to the participants, were setting in the west. At the same time, the moon, Uranus, and Virgo were rising in the east, Saturn had crossed the meridian, and Jupiter was directly overhead. According to Masonic lore, Venus was associated with the element copper, and Joseph Henry had used large quantities of copper to build his electric motors. American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Venus (disambiguation). ... Adjectives: Martian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... This article is about Earths moon. ... For other uses, see Uranus (disambiguation). ... Virgo (pronounced , Latin: , symbol , ) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... This article is about the planet. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ...

The "Transit of Venus March" never caught on during Sousa's lifetime. It went unplayed for more than 100 years, after Sousa's copies of the music were destroyed in a flood. As reported in The Washington Post, Library of Congress employee Loras Schissel recently found copies of the old sheet music for Venus "languishing in the library's files."[2] The piece was resurrected recently, in time for the 2004 Transit. The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C.. It is also one of the citys oldest papers, having been founded in 1877. ... Construction of the Thomas Jefferson Building, from July 8, 1888 to May 15, 1894. ...

Sousa also composed a march, "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine", dedicated to the high degree freemasonry Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Other writing, skills, and interests

Sousa exhibited many talents aside from music. He wrote five novels and a full length autobiography, Marching Along, as well as a great number of articles and letters-to-the-editor on a variety of subjects. His skill as a horseman met championship criteria. This article is about the literary concept. ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ... The book Marching Along is an autobiography by John Philip Sousa depicting his life and his lifes works. ... A young rider at a horse show in Australia. ...

As a trapshooter, he ranks as one of the all-time greats, and he is enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. He even organized the first national trapshooting organization, a forerunner to today's Amateur Trapshooting Association. Sousa remained active in the fledgling ATA for some time after its formation. Some credit Sousa as the father of organized trapshooting in America. Sousa also wrote numerous articles about trapshooting. Trap shooting in Ohio, c. ...

Perhaps a quote from his Trapshooting Hall of Fame biography says it best: "Let me say that just about the sweetest music to me is when I call, ‘pull,’ the old gun barks, and the referee in perfect key announces, ‘dead’."

In his 1902 novel The Fifth String a young violinist makes a deal with the Devil for a magic violin with five strings. The strings can excite the emotions of Pity, Hope, Love and Joy- the 5th string is Death and can be played only once before causing the player's own death. He has a brilliant career but cannot win the love of the woman he desires. At a final concert he plays upon the death string.

In 1905 Sousa published the book Pipetown Sandy, which included a satirical poem titled "The Feast of the Monkeys". The poem describes a lavish party attended by a variety of animals, but overshadowed by the King of Beasts…the lion…who allows the muttering guests the privilege of watching him eat the entire feast. At the end of his gluttony, the lion explains, "Come all rejoice, You’ve seen your monarch dine." Sousa was said to explain the poem as nonsense verse, but there was definitely an egalitarian tone to it.

In 1920 he wrote another work called The Transit of Venus, a 40,000-word story. It is about a group of misogynists called the Alimony Club who, as a way of temporarily escaping the society of women, embark on a sea voyage to observe the transit of Venus. The captain's niece, however, has stowed away on board and soon wins over the men. [3] Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Misogyny is an exaggerated pathological aversion towards women. ...

Sousa held a very low opinion of the emerging and upstart recording industry. In a submission to a congressional hearing in 1906, he argued that: The record industry (or recording industry) is the industry that manufactures and distributes mechanical recordings of music. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Law professor Lawrence Lessig cited this passage to argue that in creating a system of copyrights in which control of music is in the hands of recording studios, Sousa was essentially correct. Tonearm redirects here. ... The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are composed of twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the human larynx. ... Not to be confused with Lawrence Lessing. ... Not to be confused with copywriting. ...

Sousa's antipathy to recording was such that he refused to conduct his band if it was being recorded. Many recordings of the Sousa band made before 1929 were made under Arthur Pryor's baton. Arthur Pryor (September 22, 1870 to June 18, 1942)trombonist, band leader and soloist with the Sousa Band. ...

In 1925, he was initiated as an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music, by the fraternity's Alpha Xi chapter at the University of Illinois. Phi Mu Alpha (Î¦ÎœÎ‘) Sinfonia is a collegiate social fraternity for men of musicianly character. ...

Media

References

The University of Virginia (also called U.Va. ... â€œPDFâ€ redirects here. ...

External links

Categories: American composers | American conductors | Hollywood Walk of Fame | People from Washington, D.C. | Music of Washington, D.C. | Portuguese-Americans | Burials at the Congressional Cemetery | 1854 births | 1932 deaths | Vaudeville performers MIDI redirects here. ... The Dallas Wind Symphony [1] (DWS) is a professional concert band based in Dallas, Texas. ... Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive and distribute cultural works. ... Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive and distribute cultural works. ... Find A Grave is an online database of seventeen million cemeteries and burial records. ...

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