America First

John Philip Sousa

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Subtitle: A March of the States

General Info

Year: 1916
Duration: c. 2:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: T.B. Harms
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print

Instrumentation

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The subtitle of this piece, "A March of the States," caused confusion because Sousa's incidental music for the Hip Hip Hooray show at the New York Hippodrome was also called March of the States The inspiration came from the text of a 1915 speech by President Woodrow Wilson in which he declared, "Our whole duty for the present is summered up in the motto 'America First'."

A dual premiere took place as Washington's birthday was celebrated on February 22, 1916. Sousa's Band played the march at the Hippodrome while the U.S. Marine Band played it in Washington at the national convention of the Daughters of the American revolution. The march was dedicated to Mrs. William Cumming Story, president of the D.A.R., and included brief passages of Maryland, My Maryland and Dixie.

- Program Note from John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: Royal Artillery Band (Keith Brion, conductor) - 2010

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 8 January 2017

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Famous March Trios (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bergeron) (2020)
The Liberty Bell (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1893/2011)
The Thunderer (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1889/2010)
The Thunderer (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1889/2010)

All Wind Works

Across the Danube (1877/2015)
America (ed. Schissel) (2013)
America First (1916)
America First (arr. Gore) (1916/1989)
America First (arr. Teague) (1916/1940)
Among My Souvenirs
Anchor and Star (1918)
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1924)
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (arr. Brion) (1924/2020)
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (ed. Schissel) (1924/2019)
At the Movies (arr. Rogers) (1922)
The Atlantic City Pageant (1927)
The Aviators (1931)
The Aviators (arr. Gore) (1931)
Ballet of the States. See: March of the States
The Band Came Back
The Beau Ideal (1893)
The Beau Ideal (arr. Bourgeois) (1893/2005)
The Beau Ideal (arr. Hautvast) (1893/2007)
The Beau Ideal (arr. Worman)
The Belle of Chicago (1892)
The Bell of Chicago (arr. Byrne) (1892)
Ben Bolt (1888)
The Black Horse Troop (1924)
The Black Horse Troop (ed. Booker) (1924/2020)
The Black Horse Troop (ed. Fennell) (1924/1974)
Blue Ridge! I'm Coming Back to You (1917)
Bonnie Annie Laurie (1883)
Bonnie Annie Laurie (ed. Foster) (1883/2014)
Boots (1916)
Boy Scouts of America (arr. Schissel) (1916/2008)
The Bride Elect (1897)
Bullets and Bayonets (1919)
Bullets and Bayonets (arr. Fennell) (1919/1989/2005)
Capitol March. See: The Federal
A Century of Progress (1931)
The Chantyman's March (ed. U.S. Marine Band) (1918/2019)
The Chariot Race (1890)
The Charlatan (ed. Brion) (1898/2017)
The Charlatan: Waltzes (ed. Rogers)
Christmas and Sousa Forever (arr. Giroux)
The Circumnavigators Club (1931)
Circus Galop from "The Irish Dragoon" (ed. Schissel) (1915/2004)
Columbia's Pride (arr. Corrie) (1914/2018)
Comrades of the Legion (1920)
Comrades of the Legion (1920/2019)
Comrades of the Legion (ed. Byrne) (1920/1996)
Congress Hall (1882)
The Corcoran Cadets March (arr. Fennel) (1890)
The Corcoran Cadets March (1890)
The Crusader March (1888)
Cubaland (1925)
Daughters of Texas (1930)
Daughters of Texas (arr. Fennell) (1929/1987)
The Dauntless Battalion (1922/2020)
The Dauntless Battalion (arr. Glover) (1922/1996)
The Diplomat March (1904)
The Directorate (1894)
Easter Monday on the White House Lawn (arr. Gore) (1911/1928/)
Easter Monday on the White House Lawn (arr. Rogers) (1911/1928/2000)
El Capitan (1896)
El Capitan (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1896/1999)
El Capitan (ed. Fennell) (1896/1989)
El Capitan (arr. Hautvast) (1896/2009)
El Capitan (arr. Hindsley) (1896/197-?)
El Capitan (tr. Morris) (1896/1974/2000)
Esprit de Corps (ed. Foster) (1878/2011)
Fairest of the Fair (1908/1951)
The Fairest of the Fair (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1908/2000)
The Fairest of the Fair (ed. Fennell) (1908/1978)
Famous March Trios (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bergeron) (2020)
The Federal (1910/1911)
The Federal (arr. Rhea) (1911/2005)
Flags of Freedom (1918)
Flags of Freedom (arr. Gore) (1918)
The Flashing Eyes of Andalusia (arr. Brion) (1920/2014)
Foshay Tower Washington Memorial (arr. Dorff) (1929/1977)
The Free Lance March (1906)
The Free Lance March (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1906/2019)
The Free Lance March (arr. Goldman) (1906/1959)
The Free Lance March (ed. Revelli) (1906/1981)
From Maine to Oregon (1913)
From Maine to Oregon (arr. Bourgeois) (1913/2004)
From Maine to Oregon (arr. Rhea) (1913/1999)
Fugue on Yankee Doodle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1996)
The Gallant Seventh (1922/1950)
The Gallant Seventh (arr. Bourgeois) (1922/2003)
The Gallant Seventh (arr. Fennell) (1922/1971)
The Gallant Seventh (ed. Schissel) (1922/2006)
George Washington Bicentennial March
George Washington Bicentennial (1932/1966)
George Washington Bicentennial March (ed. Fennell) (1932/2006)
The Gladiator (arr. Story) (1886/2015)
The Gladiator March (1886)
The Gladiator March (arr. Balent) (1886/2007)
The Gladiator March (arr. Byrne and Boyd) (1886/1994)
The Gladiator March (arr. Brion) (1886/2015)
The Gladiator March (arr. Schissel) (1886/2016)
The Gliding Girl (arr. Schissel) (1912/2008
Globe and Eagle (1879)
Globe and Eagle (arr. Gore) (1879)
The Glory of the Yankee Navy (1909)
The Glory of the Yankee Navy (arr. Schissel) (1909/2004)
The Glory of the Yankee Navy (arr. Fennell) (1909/1984)
The Glory of the Yankee Navy (arr. Gore) (1909)
Golden Jubilee March (1928)
Golden Jubilee March (arr. Fennell) (1928/1971/2005)
The Golden Star (1919/2019)
Good-Bye (ed. Tam) (1892/2016)
The Gridiron Club (1926)
The Gridiron Club (arr. Gore) (1926/2004)
Guide Right (1881)
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (1900)
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (arr. Schissel) (1900/2010)
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (ed. Hunsberger) (1900/1983)
Hands Across the Sea (1899/1927)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Balent) (1899/2012)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Bihler) (1899/)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1899/1997)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Brubaker) (1899/2007)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Contorno) (1899/)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Fennell) (1899/1982)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Goldhammer) (1899/1996)
Hands Across the Sea (arr. Rundel) (1899/2005)
Harmonica Wizard (1930)
Her Ladyship, the Countess
The High School Cadets (1890)
The High School Cadets (arr. Foster) (1890/2005)
The High School Cadets (ed. Byrne) (1890/1998)
Hip Hip Hooray. See: March of the States
Homeward Bound (1891-1892)
Homeward Bound (arr. Schissel) (1891?/1992/2014)
The Honored Dead (1876)
Humoresque on Swanee by George Gershwin (arr. Brion) (1920/1928/2003)
Humoresque on the Theme "Look for the Silver Lining" (arr. Dvorak) (1922/1979)
Imperial Edward March (ed. Rogers) (1902/)
Imperial Edward March (arr. Schissel) (1902/2012)
In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow (1918)
In Memoriam (1881)
In Parlor and Street (1880)
The International Congress (1876)
The Invincible Eagle (arr. Bocook) (1901/2004)
The Invincible Eagle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1901/1995)
The Invincible Eagle March (arr. Helmecke) (1901/1951)
The Invincible Eagle March (1901)
I've Made My Plans for the Summer (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1907/1997)
Jack Tar (arr. Hunsberger) (1903/1973)
Jack Tar March (arr. Schissel) (1903/2016)
Juba Dance (as orchestrator) (1913/1926)
Kansas Wildcats March (arr. Gore) (1931/2005)
Keeping Step with the Union (1921/2019)
Keeping Step with the Union (arr. Brion)(1921/2012)
King Cotton (1895)
King Cotton (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1895/2000)
King Cotton (ed. Fennell) (1895/1983)
La Flor de Sevilla (1929)
La Flor de Sevilla (arr. Schissel) (1929/1951)
La Reine de la Mer Valses (1886)
The Lambs' March (1914)
The Lambs' March (arr. Schissel) (1914/2011)
The Last Days of Pompeii (1893/1912)
The Last Days of Pompeii (ed. Rogers) (1893/1912/2010)
The Legionaires (1930)
The Liberty Bell (1893/1921)
The Liberty Bell (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1893/2011)
The Liberty Bell (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1893/2001)
The Liberty Bell (arr. Helmecke) (1893/1951)
The Liberty Bell (arr. Johnson) (1893/?)
The Liberty Bell (ed. Revelli) (1893/1982)
The Liberty Bell (arr. Story) (1893/2002)
The Liberty Bell (arr. Tamura) (1893)
Liberty Loan (1917)
Liberty Loan (arr. Brion) (1917/2015)
The Library of Congress March (arr. Bulla) (1932/2003)
The Lion Tamer. See: On Parade
Look for the Silver Lining (1922)
Looking Upward Suite (ed. Bourgeois) (1902/1904/1999)
The Loyal Legion March (1890)
Magna Charta March (1927/1928)
The Man Behind the Gun (1899)
Manhattan Beach March (adapt. Brion and Schissel) (1893/1996)
Manhattan Beach March (arr. Balent) (1893/2015)
Manhattan Beach March (ed. Contorno) (1893/1984 )
Manhattan Beach March (arr. Helmecke) (1893/1951)
Manhattan Beach March (ed. Fennell) (1893/1980)
March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory) (1923)
March of the Pan Americans (1916)
March of the Royal Trumpets (1892)
March of the States (1915)
A March of the States (arr. Schissel) (1915/2018)
March of the Sun. See: Prince Charming
Marching through Georgia
Marquette University March (1924)
Mikado March (1885)
A Mingling of the Wets and the Drys
The Minnesota March (arr. Bencriscutto) (1927)
The Minnesota March (arr. Fennell) (1927/1990)
Mother Goose (1883)
Mother Hubbard March (1885)
Mountain and City
National Fencibles (1888)
National Fencibles (arr. Schissel) (1888/2013)
The National Game (1925)
The National Game (arr. Brion) (1925/2005)
The Naval Reserve (1917)
New Mexico March (arr. Fennell) (1928/1970)
New York Hippodrome (1915)
New York Hippodrome (ed. Bryne) (1915/2000)
New York Hippodrome (arr. Knoener) (1915)
New York Hippodrome (arr. Brion) (1915/2014)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (1923)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Brion) (1923/2019)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Bullock) (1923/2001)
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Fennell) (1923/1972)
The Northern Pines (1931/1998)
The Occidental (1887/1891/2016)
Old Ironsides (arr. Lovrien and Gann) (1926/1999/2007)
Old Ironsides (arr. Patterson) (1926/2020)
On Parade (1892)
On the Campus (ed. Schissel) (1920/2005)
On the Tramp (1879)
On the Wings of Lightning (arr. Sanford) (1876/1941)
Our Flirtation (1880)
Overture to "Vautour" (1886)
The Pathfinder of Panama (1915)
The Pathfinder of Panama (ed. Borodach) (1915/2021)
The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Brion) (1915/2016)
The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Byrne) (1915/1993)
The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Dvorak) (1915/1978)
The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Schissel) (1915/2018)
Peaches and Cream (1924)
People Who Live in Glass Houses (arr. Bourgeois) (1909/2004)
Pet of the Petticoats (1883)
The Phoenix March (1875) [lost]
The Picador (1889)
Power and Glory. See: March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory)
Powhattan's Daughter (ed. Schissel) (1907/2013)
Powhatan's Daughter (arr. Kaisershot) (1907/1991)
Prelude a l'apre-midi d'un Faune (as transcriber) (1894)
President Garfield's Funeral March. See: In Memoriam
President Garfield's Inauguration March (ed. Carrie) (1881)
President Garfield's Inauguration March (arr. Gore) (1881)
Presidential Polonaise (1886)
Presidential Polonaise (arr. Simpson) (1886)
The Pride of Pittsburgh (arr. Brion) (1901/2014)
The Pride of the Wolverines (1926)
The Pride of the Wolverines (ed. Fennell) (1926/2006)
Prince Charming (1928)
Processional (ed. Bourgeois) (1918/2006)
The Quilting Party (1889)
Recognition March (ca. 1880)
Resumption (1879/2015)
Review (arr. Corrie) (1873 / 2015)
Revival March (tr. Oliver) (1876)
Revival March (1876)
Riders for the Flag
Riders for the Flag (ed. Fennell) (1927/1968)
The Rifle Regiment (ed. Fennell) (1886/1985)
The Rifle Regiment (arr. Hautvast) (1886/2011)
The Rifle Regiment March (1886)
Right Forward (1881)
Right-Left (1883)
The Rose, Thistle and Shamrock (arr. Brion) (1901/2004)
The Royal Welch Fusiliers (No. 1) (1929)
The Royal Welch Fusiliers (No. 2) (1930)
Sabre and Spurs (1918)
Sabre and Spurs (arr and adapt. Brion and Schissel) (1918/1999)
Sabre and Spurs (ed. Fennell) (1918/1951)
Salutation (1873) [lost - poss. revised as "Recognition March"]
Salute to Kansas (arr. Corrie and Foster) (c. 1930/1990)
The Salvation Army March (1930)
Semper Fidelis (1888)
Semper Fidelis (arr. Balent) (1888/2009)
Semper Fidelis (arr. Bourgeois) (1888/1996)
Semper Fidelis (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1888/1995)
Semper Fidelis (arr. Hindsley) (1888/1954/197-?)
Semper Fidelis (arr. Patterson) (1888/)
Sesqui-Centennial Exposition March (arr. Gore) (1926/2003)
Sheep and Goat Walking to Pasture
Sheridan's Ride (1908)
Showing Off Before Company (1919)
Sisterhood of the States. See: March of the States
Smick, Smack, Smuck (1878)
Solid Men to the Front! (1918)
Solid Men to the Front! (arr. Byrne) (1918/1994)
Songs of Grace and Songs of Glory (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1995)
Sound Off (1885)
Sound Off (arr. Balent) (1885/2018)
Sound Off (arr. Bourgeois) (1885/2005)
Sound Off (arr. Brion) (1885/2014)
Sousa! (arr. Barker) (1981)
Sousa March Carnival (arr. Iwai) (2004)
A Sousa Portrait (arr. Foster) (2004)
The Sousa Scramble (arr. Murtha) (2000)
Sousa's Cadets (arr. Loest) (2012)
A Stag Party (c. 1885)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as orchestrator; ed. Murtha) (1814/1918/)
Stars and Stripes for Christmas (arr. Foster) (1896/2003)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (original) (1896/2016)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Byrne) (1896/1951)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Bourgeois) (1896/2004)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1896/1996)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (arr. Helmecke) (1896/1951)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (arr. Newland) (1896)
The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Revelli) (1896/1988)
Tales of a Traveler (arr. Rogers) (1912/1999)
Tally-Ho! (1886/1894)
Tannhäuser Overture (as arranger) (1845/)
Three Quotations (arr. Rogers) (1895/1997)
The Thunderer (1889)
The Thunderer (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1889/2010)
The Thunderer (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1998)
The Thunderer (ed. Fennell) (1889/1997)
The Thunderer (arr. Hatch) (1889/2001)
The Thunderer (ed. Jurrens) (1889/1984)
The Thunderer (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1889/2010)
Transit of Venus (1883)
Transit of Venus (arr. Bourgeois) (1883/2013)
Transit of Venus (arr. Schissel) (1883/2003)
The Triton (1879/1892)
The Triton (arr. Foster) (1879/1892/2009)
Triumph of Time (1885)
Turkey in the Straw (as arranger; tr. Guion) (1919/1931)
Universal Peace (probably 1925 or 1926)
University of Illinois March (1929)
University of Nebraska (1928)
Untitled march (1930)
USAAC March (1918)
U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Lake) (1917/1918)
U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Wagner) (1917/2016)
The Voice of a Departing Soul (as transcriber)
The Volunteers (1918)
The Volunteers (ed. Foster) (1918/2008)
Washington Post (arr. Hautvast) (1889/2014)
The Washington Post (1889/1917)
The Washington Post (arr. Bocook) (1889/2010)
The Washington Post (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1997)
The Washington Post (ed. Byrne) (1889/1992)
The Washington Post (arr. Carnahan) (1889/)
The Washington Post (arr. Fennell) (1889/1983)
The Washington Post (arr. Story) (1889/1998)
We Are Coming March (ed. Schissel) (1918)
Wedding March (Sousa) (1918)
When My Dreams Come True (1929)
When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (1918)
When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (arr. Brion) (1918/2014)
The White Plume (1884)
The White Rose (1917/2019)
The White Rose (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
The White Rose (arr. Gore) (1917/1983)
The White Rose (arr. Holsinger) (1917/)
Who's Who in Navy Blue (1920)
Who's Who in Navy Blue (ed. Byrne) (1920/1995)
The Wildcats (arr. Gore) (1930 or 1931)
William Tell Overture (as transcriber)
Willow Blossoms (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1916/1995)
Wisconsin Forward Forever March (arr. Glover) (1917/1987)
Wisconsin Forward Forever March (arr. Schissel) (1917/2017)
With Pleasure (ed. Foster) (1912/2006)
With Pleasure (arr. Schissel) (1912/2006)
The Wolverine March (ed. Foster) (1881/2012)
Yorktown Centennial (1881)

Resources

Bierley, P. (1973). John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works. University of Illinois Press; Urbana, pp. 33.
Sousa, J. (1916). America First. A March of the States. [P.F.]. [score]. T.B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter: New York.