The Stars and Stripes Forever
in E♭ major
John Philip Sousa 1854–1932
E♭ major
Key
Tempo di marcia
Tempo
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Difficulty
Our estimate Intermediate
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Themes & character
National March of the USA·Written at sea·Famous piccolo countermelody·Composed 1896
At a glance
- Key
- E♭ major
- Tempo / character
- Tempo di marcia
About the piece
Composed on Christmas Day 1896, according to Sousa's own account, as he sailed home from Europe having just learned of the death of David Blakely, his band manager. He said the march played itself over and over in his head during the crossing and that he wrote nothing down until he reached shore.
By an Act of Congress in 1987 it became the official National March of the United States. Its final strain carries the piccolo countermelody that is among the most recognizable passages in all band music.
The composer
John Philip Sousa
1854–1932
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for US military marches. He is known as "The March King". Among Sousa's best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "Semper Fidelis", "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer", and "The Washington Post".
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