John Philip Sousa, known affectionately as “The March King”, personified turn-of-the-century America, the comparative innocence and brash energy of a still new nation. His ever-touring band represented America across the globe and brought music to hundreds of American towns. This Naxos series of recordings aims to record Sousa’s complete works for wind band, including the 136 marches and numerous other scores. Featured on this fifth disc in the series are The Atlantic City Pageant, named after the famous beauty pageant, Cubaland, a colourful suite whose three movements reflect the changing government of the Caribbean country, and The Diplomat, one of Sousa’s personal favourites.