John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousazɐ]; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known primarily for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King", or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford also being known by the former nickname. Among his best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "Semper Fidelis", "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer" and...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth6 November 1854
CountryUnited States of America
I still feel the impulse to give young writers a hearing, and I believe I have played more unpublished compositions than any other band leader in the country.
America can well expect to develop a goodly amount of composers for she has a goodly number of people.
Any composer who is gloriously conscious that he is a composer must believe that he receives his inspiration from a source higher than himself.
I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time.
Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains.
From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else.
Dance as though no one is watching. Love as though you've never been hurt. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.
Remember always that the composer's pen is still mightier than the bow of the violinist; in you lie all the possibilities of the creation of beauty.
My religion lies in my composition.
Sincere composers believe in God.
A band is only as good as its euphonium section.
Anybody can write music of a sort. But touching the public heart is quite another thing.
I have always believed that 98% of a student's progress is due to his own efforts, and 2% to his teacher.
The red and white and starry blue Is freedom's shield and hope.