Comrades of the Legion

From Wind Repertory Project
John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa


This article is a stub. If you can help add information to it,
please join the WRP and visit the FAQ (left sidebar) for information.


General Info

Year: 1920
Duration: c. 2:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Sam Fox
Cost: Score and Parts - Out of print

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
E-flat Soprano Cornet
Cornets Solo-I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III
Tenor Horn
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Harp (optional)
Percussion

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Immediately after World War I, Sousa was besieged by such a flood of requests for new marches that he could scarcely have fulfilled them all. One, however, took top priority – a solicitation from the executive staff of the newly formed American Legion. The request was filled promptly. Sousa was enthusiastic about the American Legion because it promoted 100-percent Americanism and because it was a veteran's group. Little could have appealed to him more.

On the first piano manuscript was the notation:

To the American Legion
Comrades of the Legion

The title was changed on a later manuscript:

To my comrades of the American Legion
The American Legion March

When the published version appeared, the original title was restored. By the time it was printed and distributed, Sousa was an honorary member of five different Legion posts.

A recording of the new march was made by the Sousa Band, and half a million copies were sold in advance of the actual pressing. The sale was no doubt helped along because the composition was one of the featured numbers of the 1920 Sousa Band tour.

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


Media

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


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Virginia (Alexandria) Grand Military Band (Loras John Schissel, conductor) – 28 May 2016
  • Repasz Band (Williamsport, Penn.) (Albert Nacinovich, conductor) – 12 April 2016


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Bierley, P. (1973). John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works. University of Illinois Press; Urbana, pp. 39.