10015 – El Capitain

J.P. Sousa (1854-1932)

Arranged by Roger Harvey

Difficulty: Medium

Price: £20

Programme notes:

The famous ‘March King’ is rightly renowned for his large output of wonderful marches but this mono-faceted view of him obscures his other achievements. Before being appointed leader of the US Marines Band he spent time playing the violin in theatres. This influence was formative and during his life he was well known for his operettas as well as for his famous concert band. He also wrote three novels, which gave an interesting insight into contemporary American life. His continuing popularity, though, rests of the vigorous melodic style of his many marches. His creative use of a potentially stagnant standardised form is virtuoso craftsmanship of the highest order. Each of his marches has a turn of phrase, a shift of harmony or itty instrumental touch that set them above the norm, ensuring that they remain standards of the repertoire.

Performance notes:

The march should be played up-tempo. To keep it going with the right style, make sure the accompaniment is lightly articulated. Make plenty of the accents and dynamic nuances in the first section to highlight the irregular phrase shape. (Note the unusual ambiguousness of phrasing within he 16 bars A-C). If it is to your taste, the repeat of H may be held back a little, maestoso, with an accelerando in the last 4 bars.