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‘Stars and Stripes Forever’

Steve Fast
@SteveFast
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John Philip Sousa, "The March King," began composing this march in his mind in late 1896 while visiting Europe. After receiving word that his manager had died, he sailed back to America. As he paced back and forth on the steamer's deck, Sousa claimed that a mental band crashed into his very soul playing this march. He was homesick and grief-stricken when the march came to him. He wrote it down upon arriving at his hotel in New York on Christmas Day in 1896. He credited the inspiration to God.

I have a vague memory of the first time I heard this march. I was not yet in school, but we attended the year-end program in our town's school. The recorded music was played, and students marched on stage carrying the American flag. It thrilled my soul.

It is literally the only musical piece where piccolos contribute anything of value, but my do they sing here.

Enjoy this rendition by the Marine Corps Band to prepare your soul for America 250.

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Discussion (24)

  • JoelB@JoelB

    Thank you for sharing the story of the march. I had not heard it before. It was quite a Christmas gift to Sousa (and eventually to the nation) - such an upbeat consolation in a time of loss.

    During my college days, some friends procured an old player piano and several rolls of music. My favorite was "Stars and Stripes Forever". The bellows were a little bit leaky, so you really had to pump it. Just watching the keys was part of the reward for the effort.

  • Seawriter@Seawriter

    Apparently, you will only rarely hear it played at a circus. If you do head for the exit as expeditiously as possible. When played it is a code for a life-threatening situation. It allows circus workers to plan an ordered evacuation without tipping off the audience and causing a panic.

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