MUSIC OF THE MONTH

July 2012

The Stars and Stripes Forever

by John Philip Sousa



We talked about John Philip Sousa last year. In fact, last year, I implied that I would be doing this piece soon. Sousa wrote many marches, but perhaps his most well-known march is "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

On Christmas Day in 1896, Sousa was on an ocean liner coming back to America from Europe. He'd been on vacation. He had just learned of the death of David Blakely, who was the manager of the Sousa Band. In his autobiography, he said that he composed this march in his head on that day and wrote it on paper after he got back to the US. It was first performed publicly a few months later (May 14, 1897). It was instantly greeted with enthusiasm by listening audiences.

The American march style follows a formula. It starts out with a short introduction, a "grabber", if you will. Then we jump into the first theme. This is usually followed by a variation on the first theme. Then we finally get to the main theme. This is often followed by a bridge that is often minor or angry sounding, and lastly (and victoriously), the main theme returns. This is exactly how "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is broken up.

Not only is this the most well-known Sousa march. It's probably the most well-known march, period. And, on December 11, 1987, the US Congress and President Ronald Reagan made "The Stars and Stripes Forever" the National March of the United States.

This is not well known, but evidently, Sousa wrote lyrics to this march. I haven't been able to perfectly line up the words with the music at all places, but here are the lyrics:

Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

(repeats) Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Now, as I mentioned, this piece is extremely common. It is often heard in parades, at Independence Day celebrations, and at various wind ensemble and orchestra concerts. It's also often parodied. In fact, one of the oldest examples is from the old 1960s TV show "Sing Along with Mitch". There was a parody of the main theme with the following lyrics:

Be kind to your web-footed friends
For a duck may be somebody's mother
Be kind to your friends in the swamp
Where the weather is very, very damp [pronounced to rhyme with "swamp"]
You might think that this is the end...
WELL, IT IS! [abrupt cut to closing credits]

Jon's Introduction to This Piece:

This piece is far too common for me to know where I heard it first. I do have memories of a High School marching band often practicing in front of our house when we lived in Sun Prairie. Perhaps I heard it from them first. I really don't know.

I have performed this piece a few times in High School. It is challenging, but awesome to play.

I first heard the parody lyrics ("be kind to your web-footed friends") on the "Disco Duck" album we got back when I was about 8 or 9.

Assignment:

And to round out your Independence Day holiday, here's "The Stars and Stripes Forever". Enjoy!

The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa (3:45)

For those interested, this recording was performed by the Cleveland Symphonic Winds conducted by Frederick Fennell.

Jon's Interpretation:

Sousa marches make you glad to feel alive. This is one of the best examples of that. The "angry" portion between the main themes is an awesome part for low brass (also tricky, as it typically involves double-tonguing).

The piccolo solo during the second and third playing of the main theme is wonderful. Legend has it that there have been performances where this solo was performed by a tuba.

I find this to be one of the most patriotic pieces one could listen to. It makes you proud to be an American, certainly.

Extra Credit:

Here's the conductor's score, but as a special treat, this is the handwritten score that's in the Library of Congress, personally autographed by Sousa himself.

Autographed Conductor's Score for The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa

I couldn't resist including a Simpsons clip. Here's Springfield Elementary led by a, perhaps overly-enthusiastic, Mr. Largo. Enjoy!