Triton, The (1892)

From Wind Repertory Project
John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa


General Info

Year: 1879 / 1892
Duration: c. 2:05
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Violin and piano
Publisher: J.W. Pepper
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute
Oboe(altered Clarinet II)
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
E-flat Alto Clarinet (altered E-flat Cornet)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
E-flat Cornet (optional)
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion

(percussion detail not differentiated in score)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The musical revisions and the abundance of titles given to this composition have resulted in music confusion. In spite of all efforts to make it popular, it was a multiple flop.

Included in Evening Pastime, the 1879 collection of solos arranged by Sousa for violin and piano, was a short march by J. Molloy called The Triton. This was published by J. F. Shaw of Philadelphia.

The composition grew from a simple arrangement to a march in 1892 when a second Philadelphia publisher, J. W. Pepper, entered the scene. Sousa added two more melodies to his original arrangement, and the new version was published for band as The Triton Medley March. Whether or not these two additional melodies are Sousa’s is not known.

Pepper published an edition for piano as Triton March in 1896 and then confused the public by publishing the same composition under a different title, Souvenir. Souvenir was distributed free at a music exposition, hence its new title.

The confusion was compounded in 1900 when still another version was published as Paris Exposition March. It was in the first issue of Pepper’s new periodical, the Piano Music Magazine. This version had been altered by an arranger who changed the last two sections from 6/8 to 2/4 rhythm and omitted a da capo repeat.

By this time, Sousa was publishing with a third Philadelphia firm, John Church, who apparently avoided the march. The persistent Pepper was not yet finished, however, for he republished the march for piano as The Triton Two-Step in 1906. After this failed, he capitulated.

- Program Note from Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble concert program, 17 April 2018


Commercial Discography


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


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. 74.
  • Perusal score