SOUSA The Free Lance (1906) - "The President's Own" United States Marine Band

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band presents The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa, a multi-year project to record and publish scores for all of Sousa's Marches. Sousa, known as "The March King," was director of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892. Recording directed by Col. Jason K. Fettig. http://www.marineband.marines.mil/

“The Free Lance” march, taken from Sousa’s operetta of the same name, has a lengthy and unorthodox construction when compared with most other Sousa marches. There were so many spirited march tunes in the operetta that perhaps Sousa felt obligated to include most of them when piecing together the march. Actually, there were enough for two separate marches.

The “free lance” of the operetta was Sigmund Lump, a clever goatherd who hired himself out as a mercenary leader to two opposing armies, maneuvered his forces so that neither side could win, and then declared himself emperor of both nations.

The trio of the march corresponds to the song “On to Victory” in the operetta, and some editions of the march were published under that title.

Paul E. Bierley, The Works of John Philip Sousa (Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1984), 60. Used by permission.

More info: http://www.marineband.marines.mil/Aud...

Volume 4 playlist:    • The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa ...