Sousa Marches

Happy Canada Day (Canada, July 1)
Happy Independence Day (USA, July 4)
and Happy Bastille Day (France, July 14)

The dust has been blown off of this disk to be played every July for 50 years. Long associated with militaries and circuses, yuck. Instead, let's enjoy parades, marching bands, cotton candy, and smiling kids with sparklers.

Sousa Marches
as composed and orchestrated
by John Philip Sousa
played by the Pride of the '48 Band

[P-4800 Somerset circa 1957; 160kbps]
[also released in UK and Canada]

"This high fidelity concert of John Philip Sousa band marches represents in repertoire that which is generally considered the best of the composer's works.

"As the name Strauss is synonymous with the waltz, so is the name Sousa synonymous with march music. It may even be said that Sousa is internationally accepted as the march king.

"He was born in Washington, D.C. in 1856, the son of a trombonist in the U.S. Marine Corps Band. At the age of 17 he was a well-schooled musician with a thorough training in harmony and composition. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps Band in 1880 and resigned in 1892 to form a military band bearing his name. The band was a tremendous success and toured extensively in the United States and Europe. The great composer and bandmaster died in 1932 while on tour." - from the sleeve notes