John Philip Sousa
1854-1932
Period of Music: Romantic/20th Century
Nationality: American
Instruments he played: violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone,
alto horn
Popular songs: Stars and Stripes Forever, Semper Fidelis, The Washington
Post, El Capitan, The Liberty Bell
Interesting Facts:
-Sousa was known as the “March King.”
-He played in the U.S. Marine Band and was named conductor at age 23.
-Sousa organized a civilian concert band in 1892. The first Sousa Band
concert was performed at Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, NJ.
-He designed an instrument called the Sousaphone (a large brass tuba-like
instrument).
-Sousa composed 136 marches and many operettas.
