1.Early Life
John Philip Sousa was born in Washington, D.C., the third of ten children of João António de Sousa (John Anthony Sousa) (22 September 1824 – 27 April 1892), who was born in Spain, though of Portuguese ancestry, and his wife Maria Elisabeth Trinkaus (20 May 1826 – 25 August 1908) fromFränkisch-Crumbach, who was of German ancestry.[3][4]He began his music education under the tuition of John Esputa Sr., who taught himsolfeggio.[5]This was short-lived, however, because of the teacher's frequent bad temper.[5]His real music education began in 1861 or 1862 as a pupil of John Esputa Jr., the son of his previous teacher under whom Sousa studied violin, piano, flute, several brass instruments, and singing.[5]Esputa shared his father's bad temper, and the relationship between teacher and pupil was often strained, but Sousa progressed very rapidly and was also found to haveperfect pitch.[5]He wrote his first composition "An Album Leaf" during this period, but Esputa dismissed it as "bread and cheese" and the composition was subsequently lost.
2. Education
His father was a trombonist in the Marine Band, and he enlisted Sousa in the United States Marine Corps as an apprentice at age 13 to keep him from joining a circus band.[6]In the same year, he began studying music under George Felix Benkert.[7]Sousa was enlisted under a minority enlistment meaning that he would not be discharged until his 21st birthday.
3. Career
Sousa completed his apprenticeship in 1875 and began performing on the violin.[8]He then joined a theatrical pit orchestra where he learned to conduct.[8]He returned to the Marine Band as its head in 1880 and remained as its conductor until 1892. He led "The President's Own" band under five presidents fromRutherford B. HayestoBenjamin Harrison. His band played at the inaugural balls ofJames A. Garfieldin 1881 and Benjamin Harrison in 1889.[9][10]
The marching brass bass orsousaphoneis a modifiedheliconcreated in 1893 by Philadelphia instrument makerJ. W. Pepperat Sousa's request, using several of his suggestions in its design. He wanted atubathat could sound upward and over the band whether its player was seated or marching.C.G. Connrecreated the instrument in 1898, and this was the model that Sousa preferred to use.[11]Sousa organized
The Sousa Band the year that he left the Marine Band, and it toured from 1892 to 1931 and performed at 15,623 concerts,[12]both in America and around the world,[13]including at theWorld Expositionin Paris and at theRoyal Albert Hallin London.[3][14]In Paris, the Sousa Band marched through the streets to theArc de Triomphe, one of only eight parades that the band marched in during its 40 years
4. Personal Life
On December 30, 1879, Sousa married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis (1862–1944),[3]and their children were John Philip, Jr. (April 1, 1881 – May 18, 1937), Jane Priscilla (August 7, 1882 – October 28, 1958), and Helen (January 21, 1887 – October 14, 1975).[19]All were buried in the John Philip Sousa plot in the Congressional Cemetery. Jane was descended from Adam Bellis who served in the New Jersey troops during theAmerican Revolutionary War.[20]
On March 15, 1881, the "March King" was initiated to theScottish Rite Freemasonryin the Hiram Lodge No. 10, Washington, DC and later becameMaster Masonfor 51 years.[21][22]
Late in his life, Sousa lived inSands Point, New York. He died of heart failure at age 77 on March 6, 1932, in his room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel inReading, Pennsylvania. He had conducted a rehearsal of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" the previous day with the Ringgold Band as its guest conductor.[22]He is buried in Washington, D.C.'sCongressional Cemetery.[23]His houseWild Bankhas been designated a National Historic Landmark, although it remains a private home and is not open to the public.[24]
5. Legacy
Sousa was decorated with the palms of theOrder of Public Instructionof Portugal and theOrder of Academic Palmsof France. He also received theRoyal Victorian MedalfromKing Edward VIIof the United Kingdom in December 1901 for conducting a private birthday concert forQueen Alexandra.[25][26]
In 1922, he accepted the invitation of the national chapter to become an honorary member ofKappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity.[27]In 1932, he was initiated as an honorary member ofPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music, by the fraternity's Alpha Xi chapter at theUniversity of Illinois.[28][unreliable source?]
TheWorld War IILiberty ShipSSJohn Philip Sousawas named in his honor.
In 1952,20th Century Foxhonored Sousa in their Technicolor feature filmStars and Stripes ForeverwithClifton Webbportraying him. It was loosely based on Sousa's memoirsMarching Along.[29]
In 1987, an act of Congress named "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the national march of the United States.[30]
He was posthumously enshrined in theHall of Fame for Great Americansin 1976
7. Links and Further Reading
