The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Sousa, John Philip

SOUSA, John Philip, American conductor, composer and author: b. Washington, D. C., 6 Nov. 1854, son of Antonio and Elizabeth Sousa. At the age of 11 he first appeared in public as violin soloist; at 15 be was teaching harmony; in 1876 he became one of the first violinists in the orchestra conducted by Offenbach when the latter visited America; later he became conductor for various theatrical and operatic companies. In 1880 he was appointed leader of the band of the United States Marine Corps in Washington, serving under Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison until 1 Aug. 1892, when he resigned from the United States service to organize the Sousa Band, which has since then made 38 semi-aimual tours throughout America, and has visited Europe five limes, giving a total of more than 10,000 concerts in 1,000 cities, and covering over 700,000 miles of travel. In 1910, beginning in New York on 6 November, he inaugurated a tour of the world, and visited with his band, Europe, Canary Islands, Africa, Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand. Fiji Islands, Hawaiian Islands, British Columbia and toured across the Continent back to New York, returning after 14 months' travel. Since his band was organized, he has appeared at the most prominent of the great expositions in this country and in Europe, the last and most important being the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 in San Francisco. As composer of music he established a “march style” of his own which has been recognized the world over, and he has been called the “March King” in every country. Some of the best known and most popular of his productions in this field are ‘The Washington Post,’ ‘High School Cadets,’ ‘Liberty Bell,’ ‘Manhattan Beach,’ ‘Semper Fidelis,’ ‘The Gladiator,’ ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever,’ 'Invincible Eagle,' 'Hail to the Spirit of Liberty,' 'Hands Across the Sea,' 'The Charlatan,' 'The Bride-Elect,' 'El Capitan,' 'King Cotton,' 'Imperial Edward,' 'Jack Tar,' 'The Diplomat,' 'The Free Lance,' 'The Fairest of the Fair,' 'The Federal,' 'From Maine to Oregon,' "The Lambs,' 'The Pathfinder of Panama,' 'The New York Hippodrome,' etc. He has also written several Suites, including, 'Three Quotations,' 'Looking Upwards,' 'Maidens Three,' 'At the King's Court,' 'Last Days of Pompeii,' 'Dwellers in the Western World,' 'People Who Live in Glass Houses,' 'Tales of a Traveler,' 'The American Maid' and 'Impressions at the Movies,' Also, an historical scene, 'Sheridan's Ride,' and a sym- phonic poem, 'The Chariot Race.' He has composed a long list of songs and miscellaneous pieces, and a number of light operas, some of the latter being 'The Smugglers,' 'Desiree,' 'The Queen of Hearts,' 'El Capitan,' 'The Bride-Elect,' 'The Charlatan,' 'Chris and the Wonderful Lamp,' 'The Free Lance' and 'The American Maid.' As author, he compiled under the auspices of the United States government, 'National, Patriotic and Typical Airs of all Countries,' wrote the book and lyrics for the opera, 'The Bride-Elect,' also numerous magazine articles and verses; and has produced two novels, 'The Fifth String' and 'Pipetown Sandy.' With his band he has appeared twice, by command, before King Edward and Queen Alexandra of England, once at Sandringham, and then at Windsor. On the first occasion he was honored by His Majesty with the decoration of the Victorian Order. He has also received the Grand Diploma of Honor of the Academy of Heinault, Belgium, and has been decorated by the French government with the Palms of Academy, besides making him an Officer of Public Instruction.