J.P. Sousa's Marches and Dances

The son of an immigrant Portuguese father and a German mother, John Philip Sousa was, from an early age, immersed in both musical and military tradition. Encouraged by his father, who was a musician in the United States Marine Band, Sousa began his musical studies around the age of six, studying voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn. He later continued his studies at a private conservatory of music, operated by John Esputa Jr., where, although he continued to study several instruments, his true love for the violin emerged.

At the age of 13, Sousa was considering joining a circus band when his father intervened and enlisted him in the Marines as a apprentice in the Marine Band. He remained a member of the band until he was 20.

Following his discharge from the Marines, Sousa spent several years composing and arranging music, performing (on the violin), touring and eventually conducting theatre orchestras. While on tour, Sousa was requested to return to Washington to become the new leader of the Marine Band. He accepted, and, on October 1, 1880, John Philip Sousa became the band's 17th leader.

During this second run with the Marine Band, this time as its leader, Sousa earned the title The March King, so prolific were his compositions. That title was first bestowed upon Sousa ba a British journalist following the publication of Sousa's landmark composition ''The Washington Post''. Identified with a new dance step at the time called the two-step, ''Washington Post'' became the most popular tune across America and Europe and earned its composer international critical acclaim. It was also during this time that the Marine Band, under Sousa, made their first recordings.

After resigning his post with the Marine Band, Sousa went on to form his own civilian concert band, with whom he would perform and tour extensively throughout the world during the next 39 years.

John Philip Sousa died in 1932 at the age of 77 after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band in Pennsylvania. The last piece he conducted was ''The Stars And Stripes Forever'', the composition which was later designated as the national march of the United States of America.