Library of Congress March, The

From Wind Repertory Project
John Philip Sousa
Stephen Bulla

John Philip Sousa and Stephen Bulla


General Info

Year: 1932 / 2003
Duration: c. 2:25
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: John Philip Sousa, Inc.
Cost: Parts Only - Free   |   Score Only - Unknown

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Triangle


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Library of Congress March is the last known work of John Philip Sousa. He began composing this march in 1931 but was unable to finish it before his death in 1932. Seventy-two years later in 2003, U.S. Marine Band staff arranger Stephen Bulla took a handful of fragmentary sketches, a piano draft, and one page of a completed band score and finished the work. Since Bulla had spent a large portion of his career studying the compositional techniques of Sousa, it is felt that the finished version is almost as if Sousa himself had completed it.

- Program Note from Appalachian State University Symphony Band concert program, 2 December 2015


The Library of Congress March is a bit of American history brought to life. Based on manuscript sketches and orchestrations from the Library's John Philip Sousa Collection, this new work was reconstructed by Stephen Bulla, a leading American composer and arranger of concert band music, under the supervision of Sousa authority Loras John Schissel. It was the last work Sousa began and remained incomplete -- largely in details, not in overall conception -- at the time of his death in 1932

In conversation with John Philip Sousa IV, Schissel discussed the proper title for this march. Sousa’s great-great grandson decided that since his famous ancestor had spent a great deal of time at the Library of Congress listening to folk singers and notating their songs, that The Library of Congress would be a fitting title.

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Kevin Gray Richardson, conductor) – 2 December 2015


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources