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John Philip Sousa (/ˈszə, ˈssə/ SOO-zə, SOO-sə;[1][2] November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches.[3] He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to distinguish him from his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford. Among his best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (National March of the United States of America), "Semper Fidelis" (official march of the United States Marine Corps), "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer", and "The Washington Post".

John Philip Sousa
Sousa in 1900
Born(1854-11-06)November 6, 1854
DiedMarch 6, 1932(1932-03-06) (aged 77)
Burial placeCongressional Cemetery
Other names"The (American) March King"
Known for
  • Composing military marches
  • Helping develop the sousaphone
Notable workFull list
Spouse
Jane van Middlesworth Bellis
(m. 1879)
Children3
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch
  • U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)
  • U.S. Navy (USN)
Years of service
  • 1868–1875, 1880–1892 (USMC)
  • 1917–1918 (USN)
Rank
  • Sergeant major (USMC)
  • Lieutenant commander (USN)
Commands held
Signature

Sousa began his career playing violin and studying music theory and composition under John Esputa and George Felix Benkert. His father enlisted him in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice in 1868. He left the band in 1875, and over the next five years, he performed as a violinist and learned to conduct. In 1880 he rejoined the Marine Band, and he served there for 12 years as director, after which he was hired to conduct a band organized by David Blakely, P.S. Gilmore's former agent. Blakely wanted to compete with Gilmore. From 1880 until his death, he focused exclusively on conducting and writing music. Sousa aided in the development of the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the helicon and tuba.

Upon the outbreak of World War I, Sousa was awarded a wartime commission of lieutenant commander to lead the Naval Reserve Band in Illinois. He then returned to conduct the Sousa Band until he died in 1932. In the 1920s, he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant commander in the naval reserve.


Early life and education


John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, D.C., the third of ten children of João António de Sousa (John Anthony Sousa) (September 22, 1824 – April 27, 1892), who was born in Spain to Portuguese parents, and his wife Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (May 20, 1826 – August 25, 1908), who was German and from Bavaria.[4][5][6] He began his music education under the tuition of John Esputa Sr., who taught him solfeggio.[7] This was short-lived, however, because of the teacher's frequent bad temper.[7] His real music education began in 1861 or 1862 as a pupil of John Esputa Jr., the son of his previous teacher under whom Sousa studied violin, piano, flute, several brass instruments, and singing.[7] Esputa shared his father's bad temper, and the relationship between teacher and pupil was often strained, but Sousa progressed very rapidly and was also found to have perfect pitch.[7] He wrote his first composition, "An Album Leaf", during this period, but Esputa dismissed it as "bread and cheese", and the composition was subsequently lost.[7]

Sousa's birthplace on G St., S.E. in Washington, D.C.
Sousa's birthplace on G St., S.E. in Washington, D.C.

His father was a trombonist in the Marine Band, and he enlisted Sousa in the United States Marine Corps as an apprentice at age 13 to keep him from joining a circus band.[8] In the same year he began studying music under George Felix Benkert.[9] Sousa was enlisted under a minority enlistment, meaning that he would not be discharged until his 21st birthday.


Career


Sousa completed his apprenticeship in 1875 and began performing on the violin.[10] He then joined a theatrical pit orchestra where he learned to conduct.[10] He returned to the Marine Band as its head in 1880 and remained as its conductor until 1892. He led "The President's Own" band under five presidents from Rutherford B. Hayes to Benjamin Harrison. His band played at the inaugural balls of James A. Garfield in 1881 and Benjamin Harrison in 1889.[11][12]

The marching brass bass or sousaphone is a modified helicon created in 1893 by Philadelphia instrument maker J. W. Pepper at Sousa's request, using several of his suggestions in its design. He wanted a tuba that could sound upward and over the band whether its player was seated or marching. C.G. Conn recreated the instrument in 1898, and this was the model that Sousa preferred to use.[13]

Sousa organized The Sousa Band the year that he left the Marine Band, and it toured from 1892 to 1931 and performed at 15,623 concerts,[14] both in America and around the world,[15] including at the World Exposition in Paris and at the Royal Albert Hall in London.[5][16] In Paris, the Sousa Band marched through the streets to the Arc de Triomphe, one of only eight parades that the band marched in during its 40 years.[17]


Military service


In 1868,[18] Sousa enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 13 as an apprentice musician (his rank listed as "boy").[5] He left the Marine Corps in 1875.[18] His second period of service began in 1880 and continued until 1892.[18] During this period, Sousa led the Marine Band through its development into the country's premier military band.[5][18]

The Columbia Phonograph Company produced 60 recordings of the Marine Band conducted by Sousa, which led to his national fame. In July 1892, Sousa requested a discharge from the Marine Corps to pursue a financially promising civilian career as a band leader. He conducted a farewell concert at the White House on July 30, 1892, and was discharged from the Marine Corps the next day.[19]

Sousa was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve on May 31, 1917, shortly after the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I. He was 62 years old, the mandatory retirement age for Navy officers. During the war, he led the Navy Band at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago,[5][20] and he donated all of his naval salary except a token $1 per month to the Sailors' and Marines' Relief Fund.[21] He was discharged from active duty after the end of the war in November 1918[18] and returned to conducting his own band. In the early 1920s, he was promoted to lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve but did not return to active duty. He frequently wore his Navy uniform during performances for the remainder of his life.

Annual military observances at Sousa's Grave
Annual military observances at Sousa's Grave

For his service during the war, Sousa received the World War I Victory Medal and was elected as a Veteran Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the New York Athletic Club and Post 754 of the American Legion.


Personal life


On December 30, 1879, Sousa married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis (1862–1944),[5] and their children were John Philip, Jr. (April 1, 1881 – May 18, 1937), Jane Priscilla (August 7, 1882 – October 28, 1958), and Helen (January 21, 1887 – October 14, 1975).[22] All were buried in the John Philip Sousa plot in the Congressional Cemetery. Jane was descended from Adam Bellis who served in the New Jersey troops during the American Revolutionary War.[23]

On March 15, 1881, the "March King" was initiated to the Scottish Rite Freemasonry in the Hiram Lodge No. 10, Washington, DC and later became Master Mason for 51 years.[24][25]

John Philip Sousa's grave, Congressional Cemetery
John Philip Sousa's grave, Congressional Cemetery

Late in his life, Sousa lived in Sands Point, New York. He died of heart failure at age 77 on March 6, 1932, in his room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. He had conducted a rehearsal of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" the previous day with the Ringgold Band as its guest conductor.[25] He is buried in Washington, D.C.'s Congressional Cemetery.[26] His house Wildbank has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, although it remains a private home and is not open to the public.[27]

Sousa has surviving descendants today; one of his great-grandsons, John Philip Sousa IV, works as a political activist for the Republican Party.[28]


Honors


Sousa was decorated with the palms of the Order of Public Instruction of Portugal and the Order of Academic Palms of France. He also received the Royal Victorian Medal from King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in December 1901 for conducting a private birthday concert for Queen Alexandra.[29][30]

In 1922, he accepted the invitation of the national chapter to become an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity.[31] In 1932, he was initiated as an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national fraternity for men in music, by the fraternity's Alpha Xi chapter at the University of Illinois.[32]

US Postage stamp, 1940
US Postage stamp, 1940

The World War II Liberty ship SS John Philip Sousa was named in his honor. The Marine Band possesses the ship's bell, using it in performances of the "Liberty Bell March".[33]

In 1952, 20th Century Fox honored Sousa in their Technicolor feature film Stars and Stripes Forever with Clifton Webb portraying him. It was loosely based on Sousa's memoirs Marching Along.[34]

In 1987, an act of Congress named "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the national march of the United States.[35]

In 2012, a crater on the planet Mercury was named in his honor.

He was posthumously enshrined in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1976.[5]


Memberships


Sousa was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, Military Order of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Freemasons, and the Society of Artists and Composers. He was also a member of the Salmagundi, Players, Musicians, New York Athletic, Lambs, Army and Navy and the Gridiron clubs of Washington.


Music


Sousa wrote over 130 marches, 15 operettas, 5 overtures, 11 suites, 24 dances, 28 fantasies, and countless arrangements of nineteenth-century western European symphonic works.[36]


Marches


Sousa wrote over 130 marches, published by Harry Coleman of Philadelphia, Carl Fischer Music, the John Church Company, and the Sam Fox Publishing Company, the last association beginning in 1917 and continuing until his death.[37] Some of his more well-known marches include:

Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the Gridiron Club, before President Hoover, British ambassador Lindsay, and other dignitaries

Sousa wrote marches for several American universities, including the University of Minnesota,[44] University of Illinois,[45] University of Nebraska,[46] Kansas State University,[47] Marquette University,[48] Pennsylvania Military College (Widener University), and the University of Michigan.


Operettas


Sousa and his newly formed civilian band, 1893
Sousa and his newly formed civilian band, 1893

Sousa wrote many notable operettas, including:

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.[50]

In addition, Sousa wrote a march based on themes from Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado, the elegant overture Our Flirtations, several musical suites, etc.[51] He frequently added Sullivan opera overtures or other Sullivan pieces to his concerts.[52]

He was quoted saying, "My religion lies in my composition".[53]


Hobbies, writing, and recording


Sousa ranked as one of the all-time great trapshooters and was enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame.[54] He organized the first national trapshooting organization, a forerunner to today's Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA). He also wrote numerous articles about trapshooting.[54] He was a regular competitor representing the Navy in trapshooting competitions, particularly against the Army. Records indicate that he registered more than 35,000 targets during his shooting career.[55] "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'."[54]

In his 1902 novella The Fifth String, a virtuoso violinist makes a deal with the Devil for a magic violin with five strings. The first four strings excite the emotions of Pity, Hope, Love, and Joy, but the fifth string, made from the hair of Eve, will cause the player's death once played. The violinist wins the love of the woman he desires, but out of jealous suspicion, she commands him to play the death string, which he does.[56] He published Pipetown Sandy in 1905, which includes a satirical poem titled "The Feast of the Monkeys".[57] He wrote a 40,000-word story entitled "The Transit of Venus" in 1920.[58] He also wrote the booklet "A manual for trumpet and drum", published by the Ludwig Drum Company with advice for playing drums and trumpet. An early version of the trumpet solo to "Semper Fidelis" was included in this volume.[59]

Sheet music cover, 1896
Sheet music cover, 1896

Sousa held a very low opinion of the emerging recording industry. He derided recordings as "canned music", a reference to the early wax cylinder records that came in can-like cylindrical cardboard boxes. He argued to a congressional hearing in 1906:

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.

Sousa's antipathy to recording was such that he did not conduct his band when it was being recorded. Nevertheless, the band made numerous recordings, the earliest being issued on cylinders by several companies, followed by many recordings on discs by the Berliner Gramophone Company and its successor, the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor). The Berliner recordings were conducted by Henry Higgins (one of Sousa's cornet soloists) and Arthur Pryor (Sousa's trombone soloist and assistant conductor).[60] Sousa claimed that he had "never been in the gramophone company's office in my life".[61] Sousa did conduct a few of the Victor recordings, but most were conducted by Pryor, Herbert L. Clarke, Edwin H. Clarke, Walter B. Rogers (who had also been a cornet soloist with Sousa), Rosario Bourdon, Josef Pasternack, or Nathaniel Shilkret.[60] Details of the Victor recordings are available in the external link below to the EDVR.

Sousa also appeared with his band in newsreels and on radio broadcasts, beginning with a 1929 nationwide broadcast on NBC.[5] In 1999, "Legacy" Records released some of his historic recordings on CD.[62]


John Philip Sousa Award


Sousa in 1900 by Elmer Chickering
Sousa in 1900 by Elmer Chickering

Even after his death, Sousa continues to be remembered as "The March King" through the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The non-profit organization, founded in 1981, recognizes one superior student in marching band for "musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation."[63] The John Philip Sousa Foundation provides awards, scholarships, and projects such as The Sudler Trophy, The Sudler Shield, The Sudler Silver Scroll, The Sudler Flag of Honor, The Historic Roll of Honor, The Sudler Cup, The Hawkins Scholarship, National Young Artists, The National Community Band, and The Junior Honor Band Project.[64] He won many honorable awards across his lifetime.


See also



References



Citations


  1. "Sousa". Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
  2. "Souza, John Philip". Lexico US English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
  3. "John Philip Sousa". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  4. Bierley 2001, p. 23, 241.
  5. Paul E. Bierley. "Biographies: John Philip Sousa". Library of Congress.
  6. Warfield, Patrick. "John Philip Sousa." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 4, edited by Jeffrey Fear. German Historical Institute. Last modified May 27, 2014.
  7. Bierley 1973, pp. 28–29.
  8. "A Biography of John Philip Sousa". A Capitol Fourth – PBS. Capital Concerts. Archived from the original on August 10, 2004. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  9. Bierley 1973, p. 32.
  10. "A Brief Timeline of Sousa's Life". Dallas Wind Symphony. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  11. James A. Garfield (1989). "Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011.
  12. Benjamin Harrison (1989). "Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011.
  13. "Sousaphone". Virginia Tech Music Dictionary. Virginia Tech University. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  14. Bierley, Paul Edmund, "The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa". University of Illinois Press, 2006.
  15. "The Sousa Band". America's Story. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  16. Royal Albert Hall Archives
  17. Bierley, Paul E. (2006). The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa. p. 46. ISBN 0-252-03147-4.
  18. John Phillips Sousa, United States Navy Memorial.
  19. "Sousa Leaves the Marine Band". The New-York Times. Vol. XLI, no. 12,772. August 1, 1892. p. 1. ProQuest 94976417.
  20. Bierley 2001, p. 250.
  21. Bierley 2001, p. 78.
  22. McSherry, Jack L. Jr. "John Philip Sousa". The Spanish–American War Centennial Website. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  23. "Lineage Book". Daughters of the American Revolution, 1922. 1922. p. 165. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  24. Paul E. Bierley (October 28, 1997). "Biography of John Philip Sousa". Scottish Rite Journal. Archived from the original on November 6, 2005. Paul E. Bierley is a member of Whitehall No. 761, Whitehall, Ohio.
  25. "John Philip Sousa, Band Leader, Dies in Hotel at Reading". (special edition). The New York Times. March 6, 1932. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. His musical education began at 7. He had already made up his mind that he wanted to be a musician, and four years later he won all the medals at the conservatory, the beginning of his collection of decorations, which is said to be the largest in his field in the world. That same year he became a violin soloist.
  26. "Congressionalcemetery.org". Congressionalcemetery.org. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  27. Richard Greenwood (May 30, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: John Philip Sousa Home (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying photos, exterior, from 1975 (1.09 MB)
  28. Barron, James (July 3, 2016). "John Philip Sousa IV, with Help from a Famous Surname, Dabbles in Politics". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  29. "Sousa, John Phillip – Inductees". traphof.org.
  30. "John Philip Sousa". psu.edu. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015.
  31. "Prominent Members – Kappa Kappa Psi". Kappa Kappa Psi. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  32. "Famous Sinfonians – Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia". Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  33. "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band, The Liberty Bell, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7FD9PNpfpo
  34. Crowther, Bosley (2010). "Stars-and-Stripes-Forever – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  35. Bennett, William J.; Cribb, John T.E. (2013). The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America. Thomas Nelson. p. 495. ISBN 978-1-59555-375-1.
  36. "John Philip Sousa Music and Personal Papers, circa 1880–1932". The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  37. "Sam Fox, 89, Dies; Music Publisher", The New York Times, December 1, 1971
  38. "US Code: Title 36, 304". Cornell Law School. October 30, 2006. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2006.
  39. "Imperial Edward March". www.marineband.marines.mil. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  40. Army Regulation 220–90, Army Bands, November 27, 2000, para 2-5f, g
  41. "Anchor and Star March". www.marineband.marines.mil. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  42. "Who's Who in Navy Blue". Wingert-Jones Music Inc. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  43. "Troop A – The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". Ech.case.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  44. "Minnesota March". University of Minnesota Marching Band. University of Minnesota School of Music. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  45. Frank, Brendan. "The Legacy of Illinois Bands". Illinois Bands. College of Fine and Applied Arts – University of Illinois. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  46. "Sousa writes special march for Nebraska". The Daily Nebraskan. Lincoln, Nebraska. February 22, 1928. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  47. "History – Kansas State Bands". Kansas State Bands. Kansas State University Bands. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  48. "Student Organizations – Band". Marquette University. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  49. "Vocal score of The Charlatan". March 10, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  50. "John Philip Sousa". Guide to Musical Theatre – Operetta. The Guide to Musical Theatre. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  51. Hughes, Gervase. Composers of Operetta, New York, 1962
  52. Bierley 2001, p. 102
  53. "My religion lies in my composition". Brainyquote.com. March 6, 1932. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  54. "John Philip Sousa". National Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  55. "John Phillip Sousa". Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  56. John Philip Sousa (1902). The fifth string. Bowen-Merrill. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  57. "Pipetown Sandy: Sousa, John Philip, 1854–1932". Free Download & Streaming: Internet Archive. California Digital Library. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  58. "Willow Grove Park". Wgpark.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  59. John Philip Sousa (1985). A book of instruction for the field-trumpet and drum: together with the trumpet and drum signals now in use in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States. Ludwig Music Pub. Co. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  60. Smart, James R., The Sousa Band: A Discography, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 1970
  61. Sousa, John Philip (2010). Warfield, Patrick (ed.). Six marches. A-R Editions, Inc. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-89579-675-2.
  62. "March King: John Philip Sousa Conducts His Own Marches". Amazon. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  63. Lovrien, David. "What is the John Philip Sousa Award for band students?". www.dws.org. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  64. "Sousa Foundation". www.sousafoundation.net. Retrieved October 19, 2016.

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На других языках


[de] John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (* 6. November 1854 in Washington, D.C.; † 6. März 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania) war ein US-amerikanischer Dirigent von Militärkapellen und Komponist von Marschmusik und Operetten.
- [en] John Philip Sousa

[es] John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (6 de noviembre de 1854-6 de marzo de 1932), conocido popularmente como el Rey de las marchas, fue un compositor, marine y director musical estadounidense, particularmente conocido por sus composiciones de marchas militares.

[ru] Суза, Джон Филип

Джон Филип Су́за (англ. John Philip Sousa; 6 ноября 1854, Вашингтон ― 6 марта 1932, Рединг, штат Пенсильвания) ― американский композитор и дирижёр духовых оркестров, автор национального марша США «The Stars and Stripes Forever»[9]. Суза вошёл в историю американской музыки как «король маршей». Разработал и ввёл в использование сузафон[10][11].



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