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Hands Across the Sea
John Philip Sousa (arr. Brion and Schissel)
Contents
General Info
Year: 1899 / 1997
Duration: c. 2:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.L.Barnhouse
Cost: Score and Parts -$60.00 | Score Only - $6.00
For further availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bb Cornet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Baritone (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
Harp
Drums, including:
- Snare drum
- Bass drum
- Crash cymbals
- Orchestra bells
Errata
In Score and Parts:
- Piccolo, m. 2, beat 1 & 2: The printed F5 on these beats should be an A5
- Cornets III-IV, m. 84, beat 2: G should read F
Program Notes
Hands Across the Sea, composed in 1899, might well be considered as Sousa’s farewell to the nineteenth century that had been so crucial to the evolution of the United States of America. The two final decades of that century had also been very good to Sousa, for in those years he emerged as a world-famous music personality. His magnificent band was one of the first American success stories in music, for it captured audiences wherever it played. Sousa, his band, and his thrilling marches spoke for all of us. Together they just might possibly have been the best ambassadors for the Republic since Benjamin Franklin. Hands Across the Sea could also have been Sousa’s sincerely confident and patriotic view of the years ahead at the dawn of what he hoped might be a bright new era for mankind.
The title of the march has the ring of history in it. Since Sousa was almost as fascinated by words as he was by music, this happy combination finds him joining one of his most mature and compelling marches with words to match, for the prophetic title was original with him.
There are, of course, as many ways to play Sousa marches as there are conductors to lead them, and no official “system” of performance was either provided or approved by him. Those many admirers among his players who subsequently conducted provided viable options, but Sousa’s approval on proofs for publication make them all that is ultimately correct.
- Program note by Frederick Fennell
When played for the first time by Sousa's Band in Philadelphia's Academy of Music on April 21, 1899, "many feet were beating a tattoo." The band was obliged to repeat it three times. Hands Across the Sea was off to a good start, and it has since remained a standard in band literature.
The march was addressed to no particular nation, but to all of America's friends abroad. It has been suggested that Sousa was inspired by an incident in the Spanish-American War in which Captain Chichester of the British Navy came to the support of Admiral Dewey at Manila Bay. A second (and more likely) source is a line by Frere, which was printed on the front cover of the music: "A sudden thought strikes me ... Let us swear an eternal friendship."
The line by Frere apparently appeared in a play which Sousa read. In answering questions sent to him while serving in the navy, he gave this account in the Great Lakes Recruit in March 1918:
After the Spanish War there was some feeling in Europe anent our republic regarding this war. Some of the nations ... thought we were not justified while others gave us credit for the honesty of our purpose. One night I was reading an old play and I came across this line, A sudden thought strikes me ... Let us swear an eternal friendship." This almost immediately suggested the title Hands across the Sea for that composition and within a few weeks that now famous march became a living fact.
- Program Note from John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: Strictly Sousa - Dallas Wind Symphony (Jerry F. Junkin, conductor) Recorded at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX - 16 July 1998.
- Audio CD: Golden-Sail Symphonic Band of Beijing Bayi High School (Zhang BingBing, conductor)
Audio Links
Sousa's Band, recorded 1923 (Library of Congress National Jukebox project)
Reference recording. Washington Winds (Walking Frog Records)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Fletcher Ferrara, conductor) – 18 June 2019
- Encore Winds (Traverse City, MI) (Timothy Topolewski, conductor) - 19 May 2019
- University of Colorado Boulder Concert Band (Matthew Dockendorf, conductor) – 22 October 2018
- Gold Coast Wind Ensemble (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Michael Doty, conductor) – 21 October 2018
- Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan) Adult Band Camp (Thomas Riccobono, conductor) - 13 August 2017
- Charlotte (N.C.) Concert Band (Drew Carter, conductor) – 23 April 2017
- Encore Winds (Traverse City, MI) (Timothy Topolewski, conductor) - 12 February 2017
- University of North Texas (Denton) Symphonic Band (Dennis W. Fisher, conductor) – 7 February 2017
- Virginia Grand Military Band (Alexandria) (Loras John Schissel, conductor) – 10 September 2016
- Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Nathan Conrad, conductor) – 8 May 2016
- San Jose (Calif.) Wind Symphony (Edward C. Harris, conductor) – 4 July 2015
- Peninsula Symphonic Band (Palo Alto, Calif.) (Ted Henderson, conductor) - 23 November 2014
- ACB 2013 Convention Band (Cmdr. (ret.) Allen E. Beck, conductor) - 6 April 2013 (ACB’s 35th Annual Convention (San Ramon, Calif.))
- Golden-Sail Symphonic Band of Beijing Bayi High School (Zhang BingBing, conductor) - 20 December 2012 (2012 Midwest Clinic)
- San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Chungsam Doh, conductor) - 19 October 2008
Works for Winds by this Composer
- 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)
- At the Movies (arr. Rogers) (1922)
- Atlantic City Pageant, The (1927)
- Aviators, The (arr. Gore) (1931)
- Ballet of the States. See: March of the States
- Band Came Back, The
- Beau Ideal, The (1893)
- Beau Ideal, The (arr. Bourgeois) (1893/2005)
- Beau Ideal, The (arr. Worman)
- Belle of Chicago, The (Sousa) (1892)
- Belle of Chicago, The (arr. Byrne) (1892)
- Ben Bolt (1888)
- The Black Horse Troop (1924)
- Black Horse Troop, The (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)
- Century of Progress, A (1931)
- Chantyman's March, The (1918)
- Chariot Race, The (1890)
- The Charlatan (ed. Brion) (1898/2017)
- Charlatan, The: Waltzes (ed. Rogers)
- Christmas and Sousa Forever (arr. Giroux)
- Circumnavigators Club, The (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 (ed. Byrne) (1920/1996)
- Congress Hall (1882)
- Corcoran Cadets March, The (arr. Fennel) (1890)
- Corcoran Cadets March, The (1890) (1890)
- Crusader March, The (1888)
- Cubaland (1925)
- Daughters of Texas (1930) (1930)
- Daughters of Texas (arr. Fennell) (1929/1987)
- Dauntless Battalion, The (arr. Glover) (1922/1996)
- Diplomat March, The (1904)
- Directorate, The (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)
- Esprit de Corps (ed. Foster) (1878/2011)
- Fairest of the Fair (1908/1951)
- The Fairest of the Fair (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1908/2000)
- Fairest of the Fair, The (ed Fennell) (ed. Fennell) (1908/1978)
- Federal, The (1910)
- Flags of Freedom (arr. Gore) (1918)
- Flashing Eyes of Andalusia, The (arr. Brion) (1920/2014)
- Foshay Tower Washington Memorial (arr. Dorff) (1929/1977)
- Free Lance March, The (1906)
- The Free Lance March (ed. Revelli) (1906/1981)
- From Maine to Oregon (1913)
- From Maine to Oregon (arr Bourgeois) (1913/2004)
- Fugue on Yankee Doodle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1996)
- The Gallant Seventh (1922/1950)
- Gallant Seventh, The (arr. Bourgeois) (1922/2003)
- The Gallant Seventh (arr. Fennell) (1922/1971)
- George Washington Bicentennial March (1930)
- George Washington Bicentennial (1932/1966)
- George Washington Bicentennial March (ed. Fennell) (1932/2006)
- Gladiator March, The (1886/1914)
- The Gladiator March (1886)
- The Gladiator (arr. Byrne and Boyd) (1886/1994)
- Gladiator March, The (arr. Brion) (1886/2015)
- Gliding Girl, The (arr. Schissel) (1912/2008
- Globe and Eagle (1879)
- Globe and Eagle (arr. Gore) (1879)
- The Glory of the Yankee Navy (1909)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr. Schissel) (1909/2004)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr Fennell) (arr. Frederick Fennell) (1909/1984)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr Gore) (arr. Gore) (1909)
- Golden Jubilee March (1928)
- Golden Jubilee March (arr. Fennell)(1928/1971/2005)
- Golden Star, The (1919)
- Good-Bye
- The Gridiron Club (1926)
- Gridiron Club, The (arr. Gore) (1926/2004)
- Guide Right (1881)
- Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (Sousa) (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) (1899/1927)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1899/1997)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Balent) (1899/2012)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Fennell) (1899/1982)
- Harmonica Wizard (1930)
- Her Ladyship, the Countess
- High School Cadets, The (1890)
- High School Cadets, The (arr. Foster) (1890/2005)
- High School Cadets, The (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 (1902)
- In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow (1918)
- In Memoriam (Garfield's Funeral March) (1881)
- In Parlor and Street (1880)
- The International Congress (1876)
- The Invincible Eagle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1901/1995)
- Invincible Eagle March, The (arr. Helmecke) (1901/1951)
- The Invincible Eagle (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)
- Kansas Wildcats March (arr. Gore) (1931/2005)
- Keeping Step with the Union (1921)
- 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)
- Last Days of Pompeii, The (arr. Rogers) (1893/1912/2010)
- Legionaires, The (1930)
- Liberty Bell, The (1893) (1893/1921)
- The Liberty Bell (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1893/2001)
- Liberty Bell, The (ed Revelli) (ed. Revelli) (1893/1982)
- Liberty Bell, The (arr. Helmecke) (1893/1951)
- Liberty Bell, The (arr. Tamura) (1893)
- Liberty Loan (1917)
- Liberty Loan (arr. Brion) (1917/2015)
- Library of Congress March, The (arr. Bulla) (1932/2003)
- The Lion Tamer. See: On Parade
- Look for the Silver Lining (1922)
- Looking Upward Suite (ed. Bourgeois) (1902/1904/1999)
- Loyal Legion March, The (1890)
- Man Behind the Gun, The (1899)
- Manhattan Beach March (adapt. Brion and Schissel) (1893/1996)
- Manhattan Beach March (arr. Balent) (1893/2015)
- 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)
- Marching through Georgia
- Marquette University March (1924)
- Mikado March (1885)
- Mingling of the Wets and the Drys, A
- The Minnesota March (arr. Bencriscutto) (1927)
- Minnesota March, The (arr. Fennell) (1927/1990)
- Mother Goose (1883)
- Mother Hubbard March (1885)
- Mountain and City
- National Fencibles (1888)
- National Fencibles (arr. Schissel) (1888/2013)
- National Game, The (1925)
- National Game, The (arr Brion) (arr. Brion) (1925/2005)
- Naval Reserve, The (1917)
- New Mexico (arr. Fennell) (1928/1970)
- New York Hippodrome (1915) (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. Fennell) (1923/1972)
- Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Bullock) (1923/2001)
- Northern Pines, The (1931/1998)
- The Occidental (1887/1891/2016)
- Old Ironsides (arr. Lovrien and Gann) (1926/1999/2007)
- 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 (arr. Brion) (1915/2016)
- 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)
- Phoenix March, The (1875) [lost]
- Picador, The (1889)
- Power and Glory. See: March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory)
- Powhattan's Daughter (ed. Schissel) (1907/2013)
- 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)
- Pride of the Wolverines, The (1926)
- The Pride of the Wolverines (ed. Fennell) (1926/2006)
- Prince Charming (1928)
- Processional (ed. Bourgeois) (1918/2006)
- Quilting Party March, The (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 (1927)
- Riders for the Flag (ed. Fennell) (1927/1968)
- Rifle Regiment, The (1886)
- Rifle Regiment, The (ed. Fennell) (1886/1985))
- 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 (Sousa) (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"]
- Salvation Army, The (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-?)
- 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. Brion) (1885/2014)
- Sousa! (arr. Barker) (1981)
- Sousa March Carnival (arr. Iwai) (2004)
- Sousa Portrait, A (arr. Foster) (2004)
- Sousa Scramble, The (arr. Murtha) (2000)
- Sousa's Cadets (arr. Loest) (2012)
- A Stag Party (c. 1885)
- Star-Spangled Banner, The (orch Sousa) (arr Murtha) (as orchestrator) (1814/1918)
- Stars and Stripes for Christmas (arr. Foster) (1896/2003)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Bourgeois) (1896/2004)
- Stars and Stripes Forever, The (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1896/1996)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (arr. Helmecke) (1896/1951)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Revelli) (1896/1988)
- Tales of a Traveler (arr. Rogers) (1912/1999)
- Tally-Ho! (1886/1894)
- Three Quotations
- The Thunderer (1889)
- The Thunderer (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1998)
- The Thunderer (ed. Fennell) (1889/1997)
- The Thunderer (ed. Jurrens) (1889/1984)
- Transit of Venus (1883)
- Transit of Venus (arr. Bourgeois) (1883/2013)
- The Triton (1879/1892)
- The Triton (arr. Foster) (1879/1892/2009)
- Triumph of Time (1885)
- Turkey in the Straw (as arranger; trans. Guion) (1919/1931)
- Universal Peace (probably 1925 or 1926)
- University of Illinois March (1929)
- University of Nebraska (1928)
- Untitled march (1930)
- USAAC March (1918)
- US Field Artillery March (1918)
- U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
- U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Wagner) (1917/2016)
- Voice of a Departing Soul, The (as transcriber)
- The Volunteers (1918)
- The Volunteers (ed. Foster) (1918/2008)
- Washington Post March (1889/1917)
- The Washington Post (arr. Bocook) (1889/2010)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Fennell) (1889/1983)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1997)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Carnahan) (1889/)
- The Washington Post (arr. Story) (1889/1998)
- We Are Coming March (ed. Schissel) (1918)
- Wedding March (Sousa) (1918)
- When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (1918)
- When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (arr. Brion) (1918/2014)
- White Plume, The (1884)
- The White Rose (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
- 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)
- Wolverine March, The (ed. Foster) (1881/2012)
- Yorktown Centennial (1881)
References
- Bierley, P. (1973). John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works. University of Illinois Press; Urbana, pp. 50.