This album is part of a historical project, and the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Plymouth recorded it to demonstrate their talent to an international audience.
Cultural Impact
The Sousa Band's unprecedented popularity came when few American orchestras existed, making band concerts the most important aspect of US musical life from the Civil War to about 1920.
Compositional Technique
John Philip Sousa modified the brass band by decreasing brass and percussion, increasing woodwinds, and adding a harp, allowing his ensemble to execute programs almost as varied as a symphony orchestra.
Performer Biography
Keith Brion, the conductor on this album, leads his own New Sousa Band and is a specialist in Sousa's period style, having published numerous performing editions of his music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Beyond marches, John Philip Sousa was an inventive composer of over 200 works, including symphonic poems, suites, operas, and operettas, and his instrumentation principles influenced classical composers.
Composer Biography
John Philip Sousa, known as 'The March King,' became conductor of the United States Marine Band at age 26 in 1880.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Sousa believed a march 'should make a man with a wooden leg step out and dance,' and he standardized the march form as it is known today.
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