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Tales of a Traveler

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John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (ed. R Mark Rogers)


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General Info

Year: 1912 / 1999
Duration: c. 18:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $225.00   |   Score Only (print) - $21.95


Movements

1. The Kaffir on the Karroo – 3:30
2. In the Land of the Golden Fleece – 5:30
3. Coronation March – 5:30
4. Easter Monday on the White House Lawn – 2:40


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV (IV doubling E-flat Alto Clarinet)
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone
B-flat Cornets I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Slapstick
  • Snare Drum
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This suite was conceived while the Sousa Band was on its world tour of 1910-11. With the exception of The last Days of Pompeii, Sousa used it more often than any of his other suites. The first movements is descriptive of the dances of the Karoo, a native of South Africa. The second, a "valse romantique," was dedicated "To the Matrons and Maids of Australia." A change in the suite's order came in 1928 when Easter Monday on the White House Lawn was written to replace Grand Promenade at the White House.

A bit of interesting history surrounds the third movement. Shortly after it was written, its name was changed from Grand Promenade at the White House to Coronation March. This was done to fulfill a request made by British music publishers for a composition to be used at the coronation of King George V. However, only music of British composers was used at the coronation ceremony. This movement of the suite was then published as Grand Festival march and dedicated to British bands and bandmasters. But for reasons not understood, its original title was soon restored and used thereafter.

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


a) “The Kaffir on the Karoo”
“The Kaffir girl pipes shrill and clear,
the cow-horn speeds its sound,
From out the darkness, far and near,
the tribal dancers bound.
In groups of eight or ten or more
they dance throughout the night;
The brown-hued veldt their ballroom floor,
the moon their silv’ry light.” (JPS)

b) “The Land of the Golden Fleece”
“When Australia smiles with a lover’s wiles in the sun’s adoring rays;
Where the harbor’s view like a jewel blue, enchants the lingering gaze,
And the lass whose eyes have the dews of the skies, O, she shall be his queen;
And the twain shall sport in a golden court, ‘neath a roof of checkered green.”
(A.G. Stephens)

c) “Easter Monday on the White House Lawn”
- - - “with the children rolling eggs, dancing and romping,
a scene of animation persists itself;
the elders from the President to the merest street arab,
look on the scene with joy and pleasure.”

- Program Note from Virginia Grand Military Band concert program, 22 October 2016


Media


State Ratings

  • Minnesota: I


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


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. 85.
  • Sousa, J.; Rogers, R. (1999). Tales of a Traveler : Suite (1911-1912) [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tex.
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