March of the Women Marines

From Wind Repertory Project
March of the Women Marines

Louis Saverino


General Info

Year: 1943
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Belwin
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 Solo-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 Bass Saxophone
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was established on February 15, 1943. Later in that same year the new unit’s Washington-based band was preparing for a parade on the following day, and the Marine Band commander, Lt. Col. William F. Santelmann, suddenly realized that the women marines had no military march of their own. He immediately summoned Sgt. Louis Saverino, explained the dilemma, and asked for a new march to be ready to perform the next morning. During the 15-minute drive to his home, the composer mentally visualized the full score and spent the next several hours copying the 28 needed parts.

During that same night Saverino composed another march completely and sketched out parts for three more. At eight o’clock the next morning he handed the requested march to Col. Santelmann. Following a rehearsal and a successful parade performance, the composer received a letter of commendation from Marine Headquarters, and the new work became the official March of the Women Marines.

The lyrics celebrate the role of The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, officially established in February 1943.

MARINES! We are the women members of a fighting corps.
MARINES! The name is known from burning sands to ice-bound shore;
MARINES! We serve that men may fight in air, on land and sea.
MARINES! The eagle, globe, and anchor carries on to make men free.

Charlotte Plummer Owen, the first conductor of the Women Marines Band, continued with her career in music. In 1986 she was appointed conductor of the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Civic Band.

-Notes from Program Notes for Band and Murrieta Valley High School Wind Ensemble I concert program, 19 February 2015


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Bonita Springs (Fla.) Concert Band (Gary Smith, conductor) – 17 May 2023 (ACB 2023 Annual Convention (Orlando, Fla.))
  • Liberty Classic Community Band Festival (Williamsport, Penn.) (Arnald D. Gabriel, conductor) – 13 October 2019
  • Virginia Grand Military Band (Alexandria) (Loras John Schissel, conductor) – 16 March 2019
  • Central Iowa Wind Ensemble (Rachel Poss, conductor) - 10 March 2019
  • University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Symphony Band (Phillip Ostrander, conductor) - 12 October 2018
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) - 29 August 2018
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Michelle A. Rakers, conductor) – 11 March 2018
  • Allegheny College (Penn.) Band Camp for Adult Musicians (Timothy Foley, conductor) – 1 July 2016
  • Murrieta Valley High School (Murrieta, Calif.) Wind Ensemble I (Neil Anderson, conductor) - 19 February 2015 (2015 CMEC Conference, Fresno)
  • Allegheny College (Pa.) Band Camp for Adult Musicians (Michelle Rakers, conductor) - 14 June 2013
  • University of Mississippi (Oxford) Symphonic Band (James Tully, conductor) – 26 February 2010 (CBDNA 2010 Southern Division Conference, Oxford, Miss.)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources