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Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (Sousa)

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John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa


General Info

Year: 1900
Duration: c. 3:15
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: John Church
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Condensed Score
D-flat Piccolo
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
E-flat Cornet or Alto Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium or Tenor Saxophone
Tuba
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

It was with great pride that Sousa and his band represented the United States at the Paris Exposition of 1900. This was the first overseas tour of the band, and it was received throughout Europe with enthusiasm. The band displayed the finest American musicianship Europe had seen and helped dispel the notion that the United States was an artistic void.

A statue of George Washington was unveiled on July 2, but the highlight of the Paris engagement was the unveiling of the Lafayette Monument on July 4. It was presented on behalf of the children of the United States by Ferdinand W. Peck, commissioner general of the Paris Exposition, as President Loubet of France looked on. The monument portrayed Lafayette on horseback offering his sword to the American cause in the Revolutionary War and was draped with a huge American flag. At the unveiling the Sousa Band gave the first performance of the march composed specifically for that moment: Hail to the Spirit of Liberty. Immediately after the ceremony, the band made one of its rare appearances in a parade as it marched through the main streets of Paris.

Certain sections of the march evidently were taken from an unidentified earlier operetta and revised, because in 1965 fragments which were probably meant to be discarded were found in a stack of manuscripts at the Sands Point estate. The march was so successful that it is difficult to reconcile a story often told by Sousa’s daughter Priscilla; she said that her father had entered the march in a contest shortly before it was published, and that the contest had been won by an “unknown” composer whose march was promptly forgotten.

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


Materials for the march were from an abandoned choral finale to his then-running opera Chris and the Wonderful Lamp. For his efforts, the French government awarded Sousa the Palmes d’Officier d’Academie, which he wore on his uniform until his death.

- Program Note from Central Winds: A Music Educators Wind Ensemble concert program, 14 December 2016


Commercial Discography


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) Wind Symphony (Bobby Francis, conductor) - 25 November 2019
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Bryan P. Sherlock, conductor) - 16 August 2018
  • United States Marine Band (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 20 January 2017 (Presidential Inauguration)
  • United States Marine Band (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 11 January 2015


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. 49-50.
  • Sousa, J. (1900). Hail to the Spirit of Liberty [score]. John Church: [s.l.]
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