Posted on 07/03/2005 10:29:36 PM PDT by HAL9000
Happy Independence Day To You Too! And May God Bless America And You On This Independence Day!
I have a Sousa CD, and perhaps as corny as it may seem, it's actually really fun to listen to, even off-holiday! The guy was a musical genius in his genre.
I went searching for some songs by both Sousa & Iowa's "march king" Karl King, and found this Air Force sight with some great MP3's of marches. If you're in the "marching mood:"
http://www.af.mil/band/marches.asp
Some guy from Maylasia e mailed me his transcription of the Horowitz/Sousa adaptation of The Stars and Stripes Forever.
Eventually, they asked for it so much and it was so difficult that even Vladimir Horowitz stopped playing his best encore.
Thanks for the post. I'll put my Sousa CD on later today!
Thanks for the post, HAL!
John Philip Sousa truly loved America. I recall long ago reading how he emigrated here and some speculation on how he created his new last name to include USA. Not verified, to my knowledge but a great story.
"The Stars And Stripes Forever" is one of my favorite marches. The words are amazing and can--like the march itself--bring tears of proud patriotism to my eyes.
BRING BACK SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS!
Thanks for the af.mil link - it has some good mp3s.
John Phillip Sousa was a terrific composer and a great patriot. His music is an inspiration.
Happy Fourth of July!
Our high school band had the "Stars and Stripes Forever" in its repetoire.
BUT, despite sports getting all the attention - and I was a cheerleader and personally love sports - it was the band that won all the district, regional competitions and went on to state every year.
IOW, we were VERY good. And you're right we had to be - it is a very complex piece. As first chair clarinet - eventually - I was certainly in the thick of it. Whenever we played it, it always brought the house down and the audience to their feet. After the encores were over, I have seen classmates with tears on their faces, saying "we didn't know you guys were that good!"
Today whenever I hear the S&S Forever, I am amazed that we managed it ... but young, nimble fingers and tongues (for you woodwind readers) and a lot of practice can do what often seems impossible.
For anyone who read all of this - thanks for indulging my vanity.
Thanks for the ping!
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