The Works Of John Philip Sousa

The Works of John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon (Revised Edition)

The most well-respected biography of John Philip Sousa, John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon explores his life and work and traces his effects on the role of cultural arts in the United States. Sousa was a true musical genius who dedicated his life to raising the level of his country's music appreciation and improving its image abroad. This new edition retains all the wonderful images and information about the composer and conductor who had so much influence on musical tastes in our country. This text makes a great addition to any library, especially for Sousa fans and music educators, and is a must for every band director preparing Sousa scores for rehearsal.

The Life and Times of John Philip Sousa

The most famous of the bandmaster-composers was John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), who in 1880 became leader of the U.S. Marine band. In 1892, he organized his own band that toured throughout the world. Known as "The March King," Sousa was a highly skilled composer of marches. He wrote more than one hundred of them, including the famous "Stars and Stripes Forever" that became the official United States march in 1987. A strong-willed child, Sousa's first memories of his childhood include the time he was not permitted to eat as many donuts as he wanted, so he ran away in the rain and laid outside for a half an hour. He got so sick he almost died. But the best story Sousa tells is the one where he almost ran away to join the circus band!