John philip sousa iv biography sample

American composer and conductor (1854–1932)

"John Sousa" redirects here. Not to be confused with John Souza.

John Philip Sousa (SOO-zə, SOO-sə,Portuguese:[ˈso(w)zɐ]; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to distinguish him from his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford. Among Sousa's best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (National March of the United States of America), "Semper Fidelis" (official march of the United States Marine Corps), "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer", and "The Washington Post".

Sousa began his career playing violin and studying music theory and composition under John Esputa and George Felix Benkert. Sousa's father enlisted him in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice in 1868. Sousa left the band in 1875, and over the next five years, he performed as a violinist and learned to conduct. In 1880, Sousa rejoined the Marine Band and served there for 12 years as director. In 1892 he left the Marine Band and organized the civilian Sousa Band. From 1880 until his death, Sousa focused exclusively on conducting and writing music. He aided in the development of the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the helicon and tuba.

Upon the United States joining World War I, Sousa was awarded a wartime commission of lieutenant to lead the Naval Reserve Band in Illinois. He then returned to conduct the Sousa Band until his death in 1932. In the 1920s, Sousa was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant commander in the naval reserve.

Early life and education

John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, D.C., the third of 10 children of João António de Sousa (John Anthony Sousa) (September 22, 1824 – April 27, 1892), who was born in Spain to Portuguese parents, and h

John Philip Sousa, a known American composer, was born on November 6, 1854, in Washington, DC, in a family of former European residents. The legacy of this famous bandmaster is among the greatest national treasures of the United States. In the history of America, this remarkable figure is known as “The March King,” whose music continues to fill hearts with the sense of national pride even nowadays. Regarding his achievements in the musical sphere, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is the work that has become the national march of the U.S. military forces. Another composition named “Semper Fidelis” has been taken as an official march of the United States Marine Corps. The works of a famous bandleader are, in fact, hard to enumerate within a single passage. Those are very numerous, and the following research will review some of the most prominent marches of all time.

Education and Peculiar Biographical Facts

John Philip Sousa’s “rise from local musician to one with a burgeoning national reputation” was accompanied by remarkable historical events that had split the USA territory into two countervailing parts (Graziano 475). However, the composer’s earlier years were relatively quiet. It is known that the future bandmaster grew up in a family of Europeans. Sousa’s mother, Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus, was German by origin, and his father, John Antonio Sousa, originated from Spanish. It is known that they met in Brooklyn and lived there for a while. Then in 1848, the family decided to move to Washington, DC. There John Antonio joined the US Marine Band, which had a serious influence on both his own life and the life of his son. Six years later, the third child, John Philip, was born whose immense talent and relationship to music was already marked by destiny.

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"John Sousa" redirects here. It is not to be confused with John Souza.

John Philip Sousa ( soo-ZƏ-,_-SOO-sə November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to distinguish him from his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford. Among Sousa's best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (National March of the United States of America), "Semper Fidelis" (official march of the United States Marine Corps), "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer", and "The Washington Post".

Early life

John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, D.C.. He was the third of ten children of João António de Sousa (John Anthony Sousa) (September 22, 1824 – April 27, 1892), who was born in Spain to Portuguese parents, and his wife Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (May 20, 1826 – August 25, 1908), who was German and from Bavaria.

Music education

Sousa began his music education under the tuition of John Esputa Sr., who taught him solfeggio. However, this was short-lived due to the teacher's frequent bad temper.