Liberty High School Alumni Band
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Fun Facts*
 
Sousa's Music
 
Across the Danube (1877) was a march inspired by one of the battles along the Danube River in 1877.
 
America First (1915) was inspired by a speech by President Woodrow Wilson.  The march is original but contains fragments of four popular songs:  "Dixie," "Maryland, My Maryland," "We're Off to Philadelphia in the Morning," and "Yankee Doodle."
 
Anchor and Star (1918) was named for the emblem of the U.S. Navy for  which Sousa was quite enthusiastic.
 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1924) was dedicated to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, one of the oldest military organizations in the United States and originally chartered in England in 1537.  One can recognize the "Auld Lang Syne" melody in this composition.
Atlantic City Pageant (1927)
 
Aviators (1931) was dedicated to the memory of Rear Admiral William A. Moffatt, Chief of the U.S. Navy's Aeronauticla Bureau who was killed in an air crash.  Admiral Moffatt was considered by some to be the Father of the Flattop, an aircraft carrier.
 
Beau Ideal (1893) takes its name from an expression used in the early 1890's to describe anything that catches the public fancy.
Belle of Chicago (1892) was dedicated to the ladies of Chicago.
 
Ben Bolt (1888) was a medley of popular songs from that era.
 
Black Horse Troop (1924) is dedicated to Troop A of the Cleveland National Guard which  used only black horses.  The troop rode their horses right up on stage with the band where  Sousa presented the manuscript to the captain.
Bonnie Annie Laurie (1883) was a march of the same name as Sousa's favorite ballad, "Annie Laurie."
 
Boy Scouts of America (1916) was written by Sousa at the request of the Boy Scouts of America and received a trophy in return.
 
Bride Elect (1924) w
 
Bullets and Bayonnets (1919) w
 
Century of Progress (1931) w
 
Chantyman's March (1918) w
 
Charlatan (1898) w
 
Circumnavigator's Club (1931) w
 
Columbia's Pride (1914) w
Comrades of the Legion (1920) w
 
Congress Hall (1882) was a march inspired by the historic inn at Cape May, New Jersey.
 
Corcoran Cadets (1890) distinguishes the Corcoran Cadets, a drill team of Washington D.C., a most notable drill team which flourished there after the Civil War, and dedicated to William C. Corcoran, a noted philanthropist.
Crusader (1888) was one of several that were sold out-right to the Philadelphia publisher Harry Coleman for $35.00.  Its two-note theme, passed back and forth many  times between the woodwinds and brass players, is fun to perform and interesting to hear.  This march was inspired by Sousa's Masonic affiliations.
Daughters of Texas (1929) w
 
Dauntless Battalion (1922) w
 
Diplomat (1904) w
 
Directorate (1894) w
 
El Capitan (1896) refers to the march composed of themes from the operetta, El Capitan. This march is like other operetta marches (1897's Bride Elect, 1900's Man Behind the Gun, and 1906's Free Lance) with its use of both 6/8 (parts A & B) and 2/4 (parts C & D) sections.  This march was played by the Sousa Band at Sousa's personal expense as they led Admiral Dewey's Victory Parade in New York on September 30, 1899.
 
Esprit de Corps (1878) was dedicated to the United States Marine Corps.
 
Fairest of the Fair (1908) is one of Sousa's more melodic, less military marches; it was composed for the annual Boston Food Fair of 1908. It is claimed that the memory of a pretty girl he had seen at an earlier fair inspired the composition.
 
Federal (1910) w
 
Flags of Freedom (1918) w
 
Forshay Tower Washington Memorial (1929) w
 
Free Lance (1906) w
 
From Maine to Oregon (1913) w
 
Gallant Seventh (1922) is dedicated to the 7th Regiment of the 107th Infantry, New York National Guard.
George Washington Bicentennial (1930) was one of Sousa's last marches. 
Gladiator (1886) was Sousa's first piece of music to reach wide circulation and sold over a million copies.
Globe and Eagle (1879) takes its title from the emblem of the U.S. Marine Corps.  Shortly after writing this march, Sousa became the director of the U.S. Marine Band.
Glory of the Yankee Navy (1909) was extracted from one of Sousa's operettas, The Yankee Girl.
 
Golden Jubilee (1928) w
 
Golden Star (1919) w
 
Gridiron Club (1926) w
 
Guide Right (1881) was a march inspired by a U.S. Marine drill command.
 
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (1900) w
 
Hands across the Sea (1899) w
 
Harmonica Wizard (1930) w
 
High School Cadets (1890) was also known as HSC.
 
Homeward Bound (1891 or 92) w
 
Honored Dead (1876) w
 
Imperial Edward (1902) w
 
In Memoriam -- President Garfield's Funeral March (1881) was written by Sousa after President Garfield's assassination.
 
Invincible Eagle (1901) w
 

Jack Tar (1903) was first played in London's Royal Albert Hall and was dedicated to all the British sailors who were affectionately called Jack Tar.

 
Kansas Wildcats (1931) w
 
Keeping Step with the Union (1921) w
 
King Cotton (1895) w
La Flor de Sevilla (1929) was composed at the request of the Ibero-American Exposition head in Seville.
Lambs' March (1914) w
 
Legionaires (1930) w
 
Liberty Bell (1893) was considered one of Sousa's finest works and was used as the title theme for Monty Python's Flying Circus.
 
Liberty Loan (1917) w
 
Library of Congress (1932) w
 

Loyal Legion (1890) march was written to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., and organization composed of primarily American Civil War officers and their descendants.

 
Magna Charta (1927) w
Man Behind the Gun (1899) was a march in Sousa's operetta, Chris and the Wonderful Lamp.
 
Manhattan Beach (1893) was written to commemorate the Manhattan Beach Park Resort in New York City where the Sousa Band was popular.  Sousa performed this march differently by directing it as a descriptive piece in which one strolls along the beach and hears a band in the distance.  The music grows louder and then fades away as the stroller continues along the beach. 
 
March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory) (1923) w
 
March of the Pan Americans (1916) w
 
March of the Royal Trumpets (1892) w
 
Marquette University March (1924) w
 
Mikado March (1885) was a march based on the themes in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.
 
Minnesota March (1927) w
 
Mother Goose (1883) was one of two medley marches incorporating nursery rhymes.
 
Mother Hubbard (1885) was a second march inspired by nursery rhymes.
 
National Fencibles (1888) was written for a popular drill  team of the same name in the Washington, D.C. area.
 
National Game (1925) w
 
Naval Reserve (1917) w
 
New Mexico (1926) w
New York Hippodrome (1915) was inspired by the show Hip Hip Hooray at the theater where Sousa's band played the show music and a concert.
 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (1923), considered one of Sousa's better marches, was written for the Shriners' National Convention which was held in Washingon in June, 1923.
 
Northern Pines (1931) w
Occidental (1887) was neither dedicated nor mentioned in Sousa's autobiography.
 
Old Ironsides (1926) w
 
On Parade (The Lion Tamer) (1892) w
 
On the Campus (1920) w
 
On the Tramp (1879) was based on the popular song of the day, "Out of Work."
 
Our Flirtations (1880) was written while Sousa was conductor of the Philadelphia theatrical company.
 
Pathfinder of Panama (1915) w
 
Pet of the Petticoats (1883) is a march of uncertain origins.
 
Phoenix March (1875) w
 
Picador (1889) might have resulted from Sousa's fondness for bullfighting.
 
Powhatan's Daughter (1907) was a salute to  Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan.   It was written for the Jamestown Exposition of 1907 which marked he three  hundredth anniversary of the First English Settlement in America.
President Garfield's Inauguration March (1881) was never published for band.
 
Pride of Pittsburgh (Homage to Pittsburgh) (1901) w
 
Pride of the Wolverines (1926) w
 
Prince Charming (1928) w
 
Quilting Party (1889) was a march with the same name as an American song, popular in the late 1880's.
 
Recognition March (1880 or before) w
 
Resumption March (1879) was inspired by the U.S.'s return to silver and gold coins.
 
Review (Opus 5) (1873)  is considered one of Sousa's first works.
 
Revival March (1876), considered one of Sousa's first marches, was dedicated to the Salvation Army.
 
Riders for the Flag (1927) w
 
Rifle Regiment (1886) was a march written for the Third U.S. Infantry of Fort Myer, Virginia.
 
Right Forward (1881) is a military march based on a drill command of the United States Marine Corps.
 
Right - Left (1883) was a march named after the drill command of the U.S. Marines.
 
Royal Welch Fusiliers (1930) was given its premier in the presence of President Hoover, the British ambassador, and other dignitaries.  Sousa was asked to travel to Wales with Marine Corps officers to present the march personally to the Fusiliers, and he did so on June 25, 1930.
 
Sabre and Spurs (1918) w
 
Salutation (1873) w
 
Salvation Army (1930) w
 

Semper Fidelis (1888) is the title of the official march of the United States Marine Corps, composed by John Philip Sousa who was director of the United States Marine Band ("The President's Own") when a replacement for Hail to the Chief was requested but later rejected. Sousa considered it to be his "most musical" march. It was prominently featured in the movie A Few Good Men.  Semper Fidelis signifies the dedication and loyalty that individual Marines are expected to have for "Corps and Country", even after leaving the service. The Marines frequently shorten the motto to "Semper Fi."  On the United States Marine Corps Seal, the eagle of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem holds a ribbon emblazoned "Semper Fidelis," which means  "Always Faithful."

 
Sesqui-Centennial Exposition (1926) commemorates the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition which was held in Philadelphia on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of American Independence.
 
Solid Men to the Front (1918) w
Sound Off (1885) was written when Sousa was director of the U. S. Marine Band.  The title was derived from a marching command.

Stars and Stripes Forever (1896) became the National March of the United States by an Act of Congress.  "Stars and Stripes Forever" follows the standard American march form. Its trio is the most famous part of the march. Most bands adopt the Sousa Band practice of having one or three (never two) piccolo players play the famous obbligato in the first repeat of the trio. In the second repeat (marked "Grandioso"), the low brass joins the piccolo players with a prominent countermelody.  Sousa's lyrics:


Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
 
Thunderer (1889) was a march dedicated to the Masonic group, Knights Templar, of Washington, D.C.
 
Transit of Venus (1883) was a march inspired by the phenomenon of the same name.
 
Triton (1892) w
 
Triumph of Time (1885) is of unknown origin.
 
Universal Peace (1925 or 26) w
 
University of Illinois (1929) w
 
University of Nebraska (1928) came close to being named "The Corn Huskers," but that nickname for the university was not yet popular.
The Untitled March (1930) All but the title page of Sousa's Band score of this unpublished march has been on file in the Library of Congress for many years.  In 1988 while sorting over 20,000 loose sheets of Sousa's painstakingly inked manuscripts, Loras Schissel (U.S. Navy) found the missing page of music.
U. S. Field Artillery (1917) uses the song, "The Caissons Go Rolling Along."  This march became very popular during World War I and became a huge financial success for Sousa.
 
USSAC (1918) honors the United States Army Ambulance Corps, 80 per cent of whom were decorated for bravery in World War I.  Sousa personally arranged for people to donate twenty-four ambulances and other vehicles to the corps.  Camp Crane, where the corps trained, was located at the Fair Grounds site in Allentown.  Colonel C.P. Franklin, the Commanding Officer, asked Sousa if he might compose a march for the corps.  Sousa was pleased to be asked and promptly obliged.  Except for a copy in the Library of Congress, the march was lost in a fire for five decades.  At the Fiftieth Anniversary Reunion in 1967, Sousa cornetist, Bert Meyers, directed the USSAC March, arranged for the band by Ray Wetherhold.
 
Volunteers (1918) w
 
Washington Post (1889) Owners of The Washington Post newspaper requested the then-current leader of the Marine Band to compose a march for the newspaper's essay contest awards ceremony. Sousa obliged, and it was first performed on June 15, 1889, at the ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution and was an instant hit. Many have argued that this march brought the once-average newspaper instant fame and attention. It led to a British journalist dubbing him "The March King." Sousa is honored in the Washington Post building for his contribution to the newspaper and his country.
 
Wedding March (1918) w
 
White Plume (1884) was based on the political expression and song, "We'll Follow Where the White Plume Waves."
 
White Rose (1917) w
 
Who's Who in Navy Blue (1920) was requested  by the midshipmen at the U.S. Academy at Annapolis, MD.
 
Wildcats (Salute to Kansas) (1930-31) w
 
Wolverine (1891) was dedicated to the governor of Michigan, David H. Jerome.
 
Yorktown's Centennial (1881) was composed for the hundredth anniversary of the last important battle of the Revolutionary War.
 
*Resources:  wikipedia.org, the music of john philip sousa site
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