MARCHING ON

Late in the spring of 1867 a youthful musician harbored secret plans for running away to join a circus band. For seven weary years he had assiduously scraped his practice fiddle; now with all the confidence that the maturity of his thirteen summers could impart, he determined to practice no more. Henceforth, ho too, like his father, would command applause from large audiences. Informed of the project, his parent anticipated its execution by apprenticing him to the marine corps band of which he was a member. In order to prevent the reoccurrence of similar fugitive aspirations, a stern officer in full regalia read to the awed stripling a list of imposing regulations. He was informed that any attempt at desertion would be punished by a firing squad at daybreak. The threat sufficed; for two years, John Phillips Sousa remained a fearfully earnest apprentice in the marine corps band.

Since then for more than fifty years the composed militarily erect figure of John Phillips Sousa has dominated the world of military music. Although undoubtedly a great director and a versatile technician, he must acknowledge superiors in these fields. But as the inspired composer of stirring martial melodies he stands alone. In the blare of trumpets, the blast of horns, the shrill of clarinets, the reverberating beat of drums lies an overpowering factor in the patriotism of a nation. Of these elements Sousa was possibly the greatest master that the world has ever known. With consummate skill he combined them to produce a maximum of effect.

Sousa's power has consequently been infinite. A nation has risen to his call; the lowliest citizen has felt the irresistable challenge of the measured rhythms. In brightly lighted music halls throughout an urbane world, sophisticated audiences experience a breathless thrill at the rousing strains of a Sousa encore. In the gathering dusk of a weary day, the pledding step of a dogged doughboy is lightened, his heart quickened by the same inspiring tune. As long as music is played, as long as men march, Sousa will be immortalized as the Great March King.