(1854 - 1932)
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford also being known as "The March King". Among his best known marches are "The Washington Post", "Semper Fidelis", and "The Stars and Stripes Forever". Sousa began his career playing violin and studying music theory and composition under John Esputa and George Felix Benkert. From 1880 until his death, Sousa began focusing exclusively on conducting and wrote marches during this time. He eventually rejoined the Marine Band and served there for 12 years as director. Upon leaving the Marine Band, Sousa organized his own band. He toured Europe and Australia and also developed the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the tuba. On the outbreak of World War I, Sousa was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander and led the Naval Reserve Band in Illinois. Following his tenure there, Sousa returned to conduct the Sousa Band until his death in 1932.
John Philip Sousa Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Liberty Bell
Timpani + 3 percussion
Snare drum, clash cymbals, orchestral bass drum
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Stars & Stripes Forever
Timpani + 4 percussion
3 snare drums, clash cymbals, 2 orchestral bass drums, glockenspiel, triangle, small clash cymbals
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