Most of the actors were not even credited in the films running credits. All other performers in this film are not interesting enough in character to comment upon. Get a binder or other supplies to create your This Day in History album.ĭiscover what else happened on This Day in History.Watch this movie to get a historical perspective on some of America's and the World's Best Marching Band Music by John Philip Sousa! The film is a chronology of snippets about the life of John Philip Sousa, his wife, and two apparently fictional friends written into the movie to have a young romantic sub-plot. FREE printable This Day in History album pages Read Sousa’s original lyrics for the song here and watch a performance of it by the US Marine Band here.įind lots more US flag stamps here. Item #571207 – Commemorative cover honoring the 105th anniversary of the first performance of “Stars and Stripes Forever” Four days later it was proposed that the song become the national march – which finally happened in 1987. When asked what song he’d want to hear just before dying Sousa immediately responded, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” On March 5, 1932, it was the last song his band played at a rehearsal, and he died the following morning. While he had other popular songs, “Stars and Stripes Forever” became his signature song. One Sousa historian said that they would have been “tarred and feathered and run out of town” if they didn’t play it. “Stars and Stripes Forever” quickly became a staple of his band’s repertoire. A local newspaper claimed the song was “stirring enough to rouse the American eagle from his crag and set him to shriek exultantly while he hurls his arrows at the aurora borealis.” The audience clamored over the song and asked for an encore – and they got two. It had its official debut, though, on May 14, 1897, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Sousa set out on a national tour in 1897 and his band played “Stars and Stripes Forever” in a few small towns. Then, “the feeling of impatience passed away, and I was content to rest peacefully until the ship had docked and I was once more under the folds of the grand old flag of our country.” US #2276 – The song is often played at Fourth of July celebrations with fireworks. “…and that flag of ours became glorified… and to my imagination it seemed to be the biggest, grandest flag in the world, and I could not get back under it quick enough.” He said he couldn’t rest until he wrote it down, which he finally did on Christmas Day 1896. Sousa thought of all the countries he visited and how they differed from America. Sousa later explained that while he had been in Europe, he missed his days conducting the Marine Band and watching the flag fly overhead at the White House. For about a month prior, he’d had a tune in his head – “On board the steamer as I walked miles up and down the deck, back and forth, a mental band was playing ‘Stars and Stripes Forever.’ Day after day as I walked it persisted in crashing into my very soul.” US #1338A – Sousa was partly inspired by his memories of the flag flying over the White House. Along the voyage, Sousa spent hours pacing the deck, looking up at the American flag. He and his wife boarded the first available ship to return home. Sousa was touring Europe in late 1896 when he received word that his music promoter had died. US #880 – from the 1940 Famous Americans issue Sousa also composed several popular marches that got him dubbed “The March King.” He then started his own civilian band in 1892 that toured the country and the world and brought him even more fame. Under his leadership, the Marine Band became the country’s most respected military band. Instead, it was made the national march in 1987.īorn in 1854, Sousa was a musician from an early age and was part of the Marine Band before becoming its leader in 1880. It quickly became a hit, with calls for it to replace the “Star Spangled Banner” as the national anthem. On May 14, 1897, John Philip Sousa’s band officially debuted his march “Stars and Stripes Forever” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. US #3153 was issued for the 100th anniversary of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
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