The ‘Military March King’, John Philip Sousa, born 1854, became the most famous American composer around the turn of the present century. The son of a member of the United States Marine Band, he was trained as a ‘classical’ musician, but was to follow in his father’s footsteps, later forming his own band with which he toured the world to popular acclaim.

Though he did compose successful operas and symphonic music, he will be best remembered by such brilliant and dynamic marches as Stars and Stripes For Ever, The Gladiator, El Capitan and The Liberty Bell, music that still forms part of the standard repertoire of bands around the world. Many have since been arranged for performance by symphony orchestra.