"The Stars and Stripes Forever" is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America.
Video The Stars and Stripes Forever
History
In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on Christmas Day, 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from a vacation with his wife in Europe and had just learned of the recent death of David Blakely, the manager of the Sousa Band. He composed the march in his head and committed the notes to paper on arrival in the United States. A 1952 biographical film, Stars and Stripes Forever, gives an account of the composer's life and music. It was first performed at Willow Grove Park, just outside Philadelphia, on May 14, 1897, and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm. Following an act of congress in 1987, it was officially adopted as the national march of the United States of America.
Maps The Stars and Stripes Forever
Music
"The Stars and Stripes Forever" follows the standard American military march form. The march begins with a four-bar introduction, which is followed by the first strain and the second strain, which are repeated, the famous trio which is repeated with the obbligato piccolos, the break strain, the final strain, and then the break strain is repeated again. In the final repeat of the trio (grandioso), the low brass joins the piccolo players with a prominent countermelody.
Lyrics
Sousa wrote lyrics to the piece, although they are not as familiar as the music itself. The typical pairing of Sousa's lyrics with the various sections of the march is noted in the square brackets.
Sousa's lyrics
Tidmarsh's additional lyrics
In 1942 the John Church Company published a four-part choral version of the march with a piano arrangement by Elmer Arthur Tidmarsh. This arrangement has additional lyrics written by Tidmarsh for the Breakstrain section of the march.
Media
See also
- "You're a Grand Old Flag"
References
Bibliography
- Bierley, Paul E. John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon. Miami, FL: Warner Bros. Publications, 2001.
- Sousa, John Philip, & Tidmarsh, Elmer A. (1942.) "The Stars and Stripes Forever." USA: The John Church Company.
External links
- Sousa Band (Gramofono)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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