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102-562: The foundation is named for John Philip Sousa , a prominent composer of American band music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Successor to the Sousa Memorial Committee, the organization was reorganized as the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 1980 with support from Louis Sudler, a Chicago real estate developer and arts patron for whom many of the foundation's awards are named. Projects of

204-431: A crab step when moving sideways. During a crab step, the musician crosses one leg over the other, either marching on the toes or rolling the foot sideways. Percussionists may also substitute roll step when their instruments would interfere with performing the high step. A true direction change involving the feet moving in a new direction requires either a prep step or a pivot , both of which are sometimes referred to as

306-424: A drill book (also known as a dot book). Drill books, or drill charts, show where each person stands during each set of the show. The drill charts include yard lines and hashes as they would be on an actual football field, which shows the band members where to stand relative to the yard lines and hashes. There are many ways of getting from one formation to the next: Players may point the bells of their instruments in

408-419: A flank or “stab”. To perform a prep step, on the last count of movement in the first direction a marcher plants the foot with the heel turned outward at half the angle of the turn desired, with the upper body still facing forward. On the next count, the other foot snaps into position completing the turn. The upper body may or may not turn with the lower body. Some bands plant the heel on the prep step rather than

510-584: A Division I athletic program." Granata further pointed out, "Performers are constantly moving, and often running, at velocities that reach 180 steps or more per minute while playing instruments that weigh up to 40 pounds." Performers’ metabolic rates matched those of marathon runners halfway through a marathon, while the heart rate was more along the lines of someone who was running a "400 or 800-meter dash." Performance styles range from traditional block marching to elaborate productions with evolving drill patterns. WAMSB (World Association of Marching Show Bands)

612-460: A complete and balanced program of musical activities including concert, solo, ensemble, and marching areas. The band should have performed at regional, state, national, and professional meetings of significance. These can include but are not limited to state music conventions, regional or national MENC meetings, and state or national band association conventions. The director must have been incumbent in his/her position for at least seven years, including

714-426: A complete halt when not marching. Traditionally, the drumline would put their feet in a V-shape and lift their feet fully off the ground a few inches. This is to avoid hitting the drums. Even when marking time, it is considered good form for all band members to stay in step —that is, step with the same foot at the same time. A large majority of bands step off with, or start marching on, the left foot. Staying in step

816-667: A cornet soloist with Sousa), Rosario Bourdon , Josef Pasternack , or Nathaniel Shilkret . Details of the Victor recordings are available in the external link below to the EDVR. After the introduction of electrical recording in 1925 Sousa changed his mind about phonograph records. After a demonstration of the Orthophonic Victrola on October 6, 1925, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel he said, "[Gentlemen], that

918-561: A day, my players think I’m a helluva lot easier.” In his presentation to the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in 2009, researcher and exercise physiologist Gary Granata presented research after studying members of the Avon High School Marching Black and Gold , noting "At the top levels of marching band and drum corps, you get a level of competition and athleticism that is equal to

1020-475: A deal with the Devil for a magic violin with five strings. The first four strings excite the emotions of Pity, Hope, Love, and Joy, but the fifth string, made from the hair of Eve, will cause the player's death once played. The violinist wins the love of the woman he desires, but out of jealous suspicion, she commands him to play the death string, which he does. Sousa published Pipetown Sandy in 1905, which includes

1122-652: A discharge from the Marine Corps to pursue a financially promising civilian career as a band leader. He conducted a farewell concert at the White House on July 30, 1892, and was discharged from the Marine Corps the next day. Sousa organized The Sousa Band the year that he left the Marine Band, and it toured from 1892 to 1931 and performed at 15,623 concerts, both in America and internationally, including at

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1224-439: A marching band creates sound waves . The waves from each musician, traveling at the speed of sound, reach the other musicians, field conductors, and listeners at slightly different times. If the distance between musicians is large enough, listeners may perceive waves to be out of phase . Typically, in this case, listeners perceive that one section of the band is playing their parts slightly after another section. This delay effect

1326-467: A modified helicon created in 1893 by Philadelphia instrument maker J. W. Pepper at Sousa's request, using several of his suggestions in its design. Sousa wanted a tuba that could sound upward and over the band whether its player was seated or marching. C.G. Conn recreated the instrument in 1898, and this was the model that Sousa preferred to use. Sousa held a very low opinion of the emerging recording industry. He derided recordings as "canned music",

1428-416: A more fluid appearance, allowing for better control of more difficult formations and various styles of music. With this control also comes the ability to perform a much broader range of tempos . Proper execution of a roll step gives a player marching at 40 beats per minute the same smooth tone as a player marching at 180. The roll step allows for much better control of the upper body, and thus better control of

1530-522: A period of several years. No school may win the award twice under the same director. The official description of a deserving band is: The band must have achieved and maintained a high standard of excellence in the concert area over a period of several years. The concert band will have placed itself in situations where there has been opportunity for evaluation by qualified persons or has been rated "superior" at state, regional, or national levels in concert activities. The band program must offer its participants

1632-778: A political activist for the Republican Party. Sousa was decorated with the palms of the Order of Public Instruction of Portugal and the Order of Academic Palms of France. He also received the Royal Victorian Medal from King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in December 1901 for conducting a private birthday concert for Queen Alexandra . In 1922, Sousa accepted the invitation of the national chapter to become an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi ,

1734-463: A reference to the early wax cylinder records that came in can-like cylindrical cardboard boxes. He argued to a congressional hearing in 1906: These talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy... in front of every house in the summer evenings, you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or old songs. Today you hear these infernal machines going night and day. We will not have

1836-625: A rehearsal of " The Stars and Stripes Forever " the day before with the Ringgold Band as its guest conductor. Sousa is buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Every year on November 6, the Marine Band performs Semper Fidelis at Sousa's grave. His house Wildbank has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, although it remains a private home and is not open to the public. Sousa has surviving descendants today; one of his great-grandsons, John Philip Sousa IV, works as

1938-524: A satirical poem titled "The Feast of the Monkeys". He wrote a 40,000-word story entitled "The Transit of Venus" in 1920. Sousa also wrote the booklet "A manual for trumpet and drum", published by the Ludwig Drum Company with advice for playing drums and trumpet. An early version of the trumpet solo to "Semper Fidelis" was included in this volume. The marching brass bass or sousaphone is

2040-521: A vocal cord left. The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape. Sousa's antipathy to recording was such that he very rarely conducted his band when it was being recorded. Nevertheless, the band made numerous recordings, the earliest being issued on cylinders by several companies, followed by many recordings on discs by the Berliner Gramophone Company and its successor,

2142-413: Is a band. This is the first time I have ever heard music with any soul to it produced by a mechanical talking machine." Sousa also appeared with his band in newsreels and on radio broadcasts, beginning with a 1929 nationwide broadcast on NBC . In 1999, "Legacy" Records released some of Sousa's historic recordings on CD. Even after his death, Sousa continues to be remembered as "The March King" through

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2244-453: Is a biennial competition for wind band composition. The following are the winners of the competition since its inception in 1983: John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa ( / ˈ s uː z ə , ˈ s uː s ə / SOO -zə, SOO -sə , Portuguese: [ˈso(w)zɐ] ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches . He

2346-754: Is a group of instrumental musicians who play while marching . Historically they were used in armed forces and many marching bands remain military bands . Others are still associated with military units or emulate a military style, with elements such as uniforms, flags and batons and occasionally rifles or sabers. Instrumentation typically includes brass , woodwind , and percussion instruments . Marching bands are generally categorised by affiliation, function, size and instrumentation. In addition to traditional military parades , marching bands are frequently seen at events as varied as carnivals , parades , sporting events , trade union events and marching band competitions . Instruments have been frequently used on

2448-979: Is an award bestowed to identify, recognize and honor junior high and middle school concert band programs that have demonstrated particularly significant high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years. The official description of a deserving band is: The band must have achieved and maintained a high standard of literature in the concert area over a period of several years. The concert band will have placed itself in situations where there has been opportunity for evaluation by qualified persons or has been rated "superior" at state, regional, or national levels in concert activities. The band should have performed at regional, state, national, and professional meetings of significance. These can include but are not limited to state music conventions, regional or national MENC meetings, and state or national band association conventions. The director must have been incumbent in his/her position for at least seven years, including

2550-491: Is an international organization holding many competitions throughout the world. Its World Championships are held annually in the summer in a different country. Past host nations include Canada, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, & Australia. WAMSB sanctioned events happen in 32 nations. In the United States , there are two national competition circuits in which bands can compete: Bands of America and

2652-418: Is called an 8-to-5 step because the marcher covers five yards (about 4.6 m ) in eight steps. A step size of 30 inches is called 6-to-5 because five yards are covered in six steps. Because yard lines on an American football field are five yards apart, exact 8-to-5 and 6-to-5 steps are most useful for field shows. A drum cadence , sometimes called a walk beat or street beat, is usually played when

2754-426: Is even more important during backward marching. When a band is not moving, the members may mark time , or march in place. The step used usually resembles the step that is used for marching forward, though mixing a high step mark time with a roll step march (or vice versa) produces an interesting visual effect. For a typical mark time, the foot is raised to the ankle bone of the opposite leg. The toe should not come off

2856-465: Is generally easier when the band is playing music or when the drums are playing a marching cadence. When the band and percussion are not playing, rhythm may be maintained in a variety of ways: a drummer may play taps or rim shots, the drum major may clap or use a woodblock, a drum major or band member may vocalize a sharp syllable like "hit," "hut," or "dut," or band members may chant the military call of "left, left, left right left." Band members may count

2958-582: Is hosted at a college or professional stadium. Bill Clinton , 42nd President of the United States , was a member of a marching band in high school. He attended Hot Springs High School in Arkansas and performed as a saxophone player while later serving as drum major for the band . He is the only U.S. President to have been a member of a marching band . Most marching bands in Canada are organized by

3060-417: Is informally referred to as ensemble tear or phasing (not to be confused with the music composition technique of the same name ). Many marching bands serve as entertainment during American football games, which may also be known as pep band. For college and high school marching bands, this is the primary purpose of the ensemble. Three National Football League teams designate an official marching band:

3162-629: Is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to distinguish him from his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford . Among Sousa's best-known marches are " The Stars and Stripes Forever " (National March of the United States of America ), " Semper Fidelis " (official march of the United States Marine Corps ), " The Liberty Bell ", " The Thunderer ", and " The Washington Post ". Sousa began his career playing violin and studying music theory and composition under John Esputa and George Felix Benkert. Sousa's father enlisted him in

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3264-538: Is most common in the U.S. among secondary school bands and drum and bugle corps. Competitions at the national level, such as the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships. Although its legitimacy is often called into question, competitive marching band is sometimes considered a sport, due in large part to the physical exertion required in combination with teamwork. Many HBCU marching band fans refer to marching band as marching sport. Sports Illustrated considered

3366-427: Is on the wrong foot, for instance, odd on the right foot and even on the left, this is referred to as being out of step . When a band member is completely off tempo, it is referred to as being out of phase . In parades , bands usually line up in a marching block composed of ranks and files . Each member tries to stay within his or her given rank and file, and to maintain even spacing with neighboring musicians. It

3468-410: Is traditionally the responsibility of the people at the end of each rank and the front of each file to be in the correct location; this allows other band members to use them as a reference, also known as guiding . Band members also try to keep a constant pace or step size while marching in parade. Step sizes usually vary between 22 and 30 inches (56–76 cm ) per stride. A step size of 22.5 inches

3570-445: Is typically led by one or more drum majors , also called field commanders, who are usually responsible for conducting the band (sometimes using a large baton or mace ) and are commonly referred to as the leader of the band. Commands—such as vocal orders, clapping, or a whistle—may be used to issue commands as well. The following overview is heavily focused on the U.S. marching band tradition. The glide step , also commonly known as

3672-461: Is usually confined to competitive marching bands. Drum Majors , the field commanders and band directors, usually do not wear the regular band uniform, to better distinguish them from the rest of the band. Some wear more formal outfits or costumes that match the theme of the music, or most commonly a differently designed version of the regular band uniform, often employing different colors (especially white) or features such as capes. Some (especially at

3774-652: The John Church Company , and the Sam Fox Publishing Company , the last association beginning in 1917 and continuing until his death. Some of his more well-known marches include: Sousa wrote marches for several American universities, including the University of Minnesota , University of Illinois , University of Nebraska , Kansas State University , Marquette University , Pennsylvania Military College ( Widener University ), and

3876-734: The John Philip Sousa Foundation . The non-profit organization, founded in 1981, recognizes one superior student in marching band for "musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation." The John Philip Sousa Foundation provides awards, scholarships, and projects such as The Sudler Trophy, The Sudler Shield, The Sudler Silver Scroll, The Sudler Flag of Honor, The Historic Roll of Honor, The Sudler Cup, The Hawkins Scholarship, National Young Artists, The National Community Band, and The Junior Honor Band Project. He won many honorable awards across his lifetime. Articles Dissertations Marching band A marching band

3978-603: The Malaysian Armed Forces , however, in recent years, there has been a rise in the number of show bands and drum corps in the country. Although the Ministry of Education organizes most school marching bands, other organizations have made consistent efforts to organize local marching bands. In Russia , there are not many school or local marching bands in existence, with most being government-sponsored military and police bands, as well as several bands operated by

4080-582: The Singapore Armed Forces Bands soon inspired the creation of the Singaporean marching band tradition. By the 1960s, school and college marching bands, corps of drums and drum and bugle corps began to be commonplace (the latter in cadet units), as well as bands of youth uniformed organizations and universities, all following the armed forces pattern and British and Malayan (later Malaysian) precedence. The People's Association became

4182-610: The Toronto Signals Band , have military roots and were formerly Canadian Army bands. In the case of the aforementioned bands, their lineage is shared with the bands of The Ontario Regiment , the 6th Northumberland Militia and the 2nd Armoured Divisional Signals Regiment respectively. In the early to mid-20th century, the Canadian Forces maintained drum and bugle corps, which were similar in instrumentation and organization to civilian marching bands. In Taiwan ,

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4284-498: The United States Marine Band as an apprentice in 1868. Sousa left the band in 1875, and over the next five years, he performed as a violinist and learned to conduct. In 1880, Sousa rejoined the Marine Band and served there for 12 years as director. In 1892 he left the Marine Band and organized the civilian Sousa Band. From 1880 until his death, Sousa focused exclusively on conducting and writing music. He aided in

4386-664: The United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA, more commonly referred to as USBands), involving over 700 high school bands compete during the Fall season with bands of similar size and talent. Each competition provides approximately 40 professional judges who give feedback on the show's programming and design. At the season's end, the top 50 bands are invited to compete in the US Scholastic Band Championship, which

4488-451: The University of Michigan . Sousa wrote many notable operettas, including: Marches and waltzes have been derived from many of these stage-works. Sousa also composed the music for six operettas that were either unfinished or not produced: The Devils' Deputy , Florine , The Irish Dragoon , Katherine , The Victory , and The Wolf . In addition, Sousa wrote a march based on themes from Gilbert and Sullivan 's comic opera The Mikado ,

4590-550: The Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor ). The Berliner recordings were conducted by Henry Higgins (one of Sousa's cornet soloists) and Arthur Pryor (Sousa's trombone soloist and assistant conductor). Sousa claimed that he had "never been in the gramophone company's office in my life". Sousa did conduct a few of the Victor recordings, but most were conducted by Pryor, Herbert L. Clarke , Edwin H. Clarke, Walter B. Rogers (who had also been

4692-548: The Washington Commanders , Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens . Marching bands are otherwise uncommon at the professional level. Nearly all marching band personnel wear some kind of uniform . Military-style uniforms are most common, but there are bands that use everything from matching T-shirts and shorts to formal wear. The school or organization's name, symbol, or colors are commonly applied to uniforms. Uniforms may also have substantially different colors on

4794-818: The World Exposition in Paris and at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In Paris, the Sousa Band marched through the streets to the Arc de Triomphe , one of only eight parades that the band marched in during its 40 years. Sousa was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve on May 31, 1917, shortly after the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I . He was 62 years old,

4896-419: The roll step, involves bringing the heel gently to the ground with the toe pointed up, and then rolling forward onto the toes before lifting the foot to continue forward. While marching to the rear, the weight is placed continually on the ball of the foot with the heel elevated. This style is used by both marching bands as well as drum and bugle corps. The style, in comparison to high step, gives drill formations

4998-564: The Big Ten. Four primary sub-variants of the high are used: An integral part of this style of marching is known as stop action, meaning that all movement ceases momentarily at the apex of each step. This requires a band to have a great deal of stamina, though is effective visually. High step marching is often accompanied by a horizontal swing of the player's body or instrument. When band members are marching in one direction but want to focus their sound on another, they may rotate their bodies at

5100-617: The Canadian Band Association or by Canadian universities: Although many bands have still retained the British tradition for marching bands, most have also adopted the style utilized by their American counterparts. Canadian military bands are often associated with civilian marching bands. Many of the civilian marching bands that exist today, such as the Oshawa Civic Band , The Concert Band of Cobourg and

5202-726: The Commonwealth (for example Fiji 's Military Forces ) and many ex-Soviet nations (with the USSR inheriting the tradition from the Kingdom of Russia). Many bands perform a wide selection of both traditional styles of music such as marches, with film scores, or adaptations of contemporary music. The goal of each band's performance is different. Some aim for maximum uniformity and precision; others aim to be as entertaining as possible. Some show bands also involve comedic elements, such as Scramble bands which generally do not march in time with

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5304-1000: The Drummers Group of the Boarding School for Girls of the Ministry of Defense of Russia and the Moscow & District Pipe Band. The country has hosted many marching band tattoos within the last 70 years, including the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in Moscow and the Amur Waves International Military Bands Festival in Khabarovsk . The traditions of both the Singapore Police Force Band and

5406-495: The Marine Band as its head in 1880 and remained as its conductor until 1892. During this period, Sousa led the Marine Band through its development into the country's premier military band. He led "The President's Own" band under five presidents from Rutherford B. Hayes to Benjamin Harrison . Sousa's band played at the inaugural balls of James A. Garfield in 1881 and Benjamin Harrison in 1889 . In July 1892, Sousa requested

5508-678: The National Marching Band Association is the main organizer of local marching bands in the country. It is currently located at its headquarters in the Neihu District of Taipei City . The Taipei First Girls' High School currently sports one of the most acclaimed marching bands in the country. The first marching bands were introduced in Malaysia during the British colonial period and has since grown and increased its importance. The most common are found in

5610-764: The Naval Reserve but did not return to active duty. He frequently wore his Navy uniform during performances for the remainder of his life. For his service during the war, Sousa received the World War I Victory Medal and was elected as a Veteran Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars . He was also a member of the New York Athletic Club and Post 754 of the American Legion . On December 30, 1879, Sousa married Jane van Middlesworth Bellis (February 22, 1862 – March 11, 1944), who

5712-628: The Society of Artists and Composers. He was also a member of the Salmagundi, Players, Musicians, New York Athletic, Lambs, Army and Navy and the Gridiron clubs of Washington. Sousa wrote over 130 marches, 15 operettas , 5 overtures , 11 suites , 24 dances, 28 fantasies, and countless arrangements of nineteenth-century western European symphonic works. Sousa wrote over 130 marches, published by Harry Coleman of Philadelphia, Carl Fischer Music ,

5814-613: The Sousa Foundation include funding for the main stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. , honor bands, conducting competitions, awards for outstanding performing ensembles, and bringing attention to historic sites in band history. Many of the foundation's awards are funded through an endowment from Louis and Virginia Sudler, and are collectively known as the "Louis Sudler Awards of Merit". Founded in 1981,

5916-579: The Sousa National High School Honors Band is an ensemble made up of roughly 100 high school junior and senior musicians, selected from the top applicants worldwide. The band performs semi-regularly at a variety of locations around the United States. The Sudler Flag of Honor is an award bestowed to identify, recognize and honor high school band programs internationally that have demonstrated particularly significant high standards of excellence in concert activities over

6018-506: The South Marching Band wear traditional Trojan helmets. It is also common for band uniforms to have a stripe down the leg and light-colored shoes, or spats over dark shoes to emphasize the movement of the legs while marching. Similarly, uniforms may feature additional components which highlight movement of the upper body, such as the "wings" worn by the University of Minnesota 's marching band to highlight flanking movements on

6120-733: The United States and largely parallel modern drum and bugle corps . Many marching bands are Military bands which often derive from instrumentation generally consists of brass, woodwinds and percussion and they typically march forward with consistent straight lines and a constant tempo to facilitate the steady marching of the military unit. Field music units include drum and bugle corps , fanfare bands , pipe bands and fife and drum corps . Military styled marching bands are present in many European countries due to its historical origins in 18th Century European field armies and are present in many other nations due to colonial influence, including Latin America and South America, South and South-East Asia and

6222-570: The activity a sport in 1987, describing the Drum Corps International World Championships “one of the biggest sporting events of the summer.” In the same article, Sports Illustrated quoted basketball coach Bobby Knight , "If a basketball team trained as hard as these kids do, it would be unbelievable. I like to take my players [to watch drum corps] to show them what they can accomplish with hard work and teamwork. Besides, once they see them practice 12 hours

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6324-499: The advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a period of years. The trophy measures exactly 22.5 inches (57 cm) from the base to the tip of the drum major's mace; precisely the size of a standard 8 to 5 step in marching. The following are the recipients of the Sudler Trophy since its inception in 1982: The Sudler Shield recognizes outstanding high school marching bands . The following are

6426-443: The air support needed for playing. Some bands, and a select few drum and bugle corps, use a bent-knee variant of roll step, usually known simply as bent knee, in which the members roll from heel to toe but lead the next step with the knee instead of the foot, then planting the heel of the next foot by straightening the leg. The high step is a style of marching used by many colleges and universities, including most bands of HBCUs and

6528-444: The audience to emphasize the dynamics of the music. Auxiliaries can also add to the visual effect. Backdrops and props ( scrims ) may be used on the field that fit the theme of the show or the music being performed. In comedic shows, particularly for university bands, an announcer may read jokes or a funny script between songs; formations that are words or pictures (or the songs themselves) may serve as punch lines. Each musician in

6630-403: The band is marching, oftentimes alternating with a song, and is typically how a band keeps time while not playing music. Alternatively, a drum or rim shot may be given on the odd beats to keep the band in step. Between songs and cadences, a roll is usually given to indicate what beat in the measure the band is at. Cadence tempo varies from group to group. While playing music during a field show,

6732-402: The band makes a series of formations, called drill, on the field, which may be pictures, geometric shapes, curvilinear designs, or blocks of musicians, although sometimes it may be pure abstract designs using no specific form. Typically, each band member has an assigned position in each formation. In many show bands and most drum corps, these positions are illustrated in a handheld booklet called

6834-760: The battlefield (for example the Iron Age carnyx and the medieval Ottoman military band ) but the modern marching band developed from European military bands formed in the Baroque period , partly influenced by the Ottoman tradition. 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi noted the existence of 40 guilds of musicians in Istanbul . In the 18th century, each regiment in the British Army maintained its own military band. Until 1749 bandsmen were civilians hired at

6936-423: The chaotic environment of the battlefield, musical instruments were the only means of commanding the men to advance, stand or retire. In the mid 19th century, each smaller unit had their own fifer and drummer, who sounded the daily routine. When units massed for battle a band of musicians was formed for the whole. In the United States , modern marching bands are often associated with American football games, with

7038-405: The college level) still employ the tall wool-lined shako or much larger bearskin (both often derisively referred to as a "Q-Tip hat"). Sousaphone players may use a military-style beret or entirely forgo the use of a head covering, as most hats may be in the way of the bell. Some auxiliary groups use uniforms that resemble gymnastics outfits: Often, these uniforms are themed, drawing inspiration from

7140-559: The current year. A number of the students in the band should have participated in district and all-state honor bands or similar all-area groups. The Sudler Flag of Honor is typically considered to be the highest award a high school band can achieve. Sudler Flag laureate bands are automatically included on the Historic Roll of Honor . The following are the recipients of the Sudler Flag since its inception in 1983: The Sudler Cup

7242-495: The current year. A number of the students in the band should have participated in district and all-state honor bands or similar all-area groups. The total program of music should exemplify what is considered a sound viable, music education program for this level of endeavor. The following are the recipients of the Sudler Cup since its inception in 1985: The Sudler Trophy is an award bestowed on one university marching band . It

7344-557: The development of the sousaphone , a large brass instrument similar to the helicon and tuba . Upon the United States joining World War I , Sousa was awarded a wartime commission of lieutenant to lead the Naval Reserve Band in Illinois. He then returned to conduct the Sousa Band until his death in 1932. In the 1920s, Sousa was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant commander in the naval reserve. John Philip Sousa

7446-439: The direction they are moving, or slide (also called traverse) with all the bells facing in the same direction. They may also point it towards the center of the field. Bands that march in time with the music typically also synchronize the direction of individuals' turns and try to maintain even spacing between individuals in formations (called intervals). Sometimes bands specifically have wind players turn their instruments away from

7548-584: The elegant overture Our Flirtations , several musical suites, etc. He frequently added Sullivan opera overtures or other Sullivan pieces to his concerts. Sousa was quoted saying, "My religion lies in my composition." Sousa ranked as one of the all-time great trapshooters and was enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. He organized the first national trapshooting organization, a forerunner to today's Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA). He also wrote numerous articles about trapshooting. He

7650-454: The expense of the colonel commanding a regiment. Subsequently, they became regular enlisted men who accompanied the unit on active service to provide morale enhancing music on the battlefield or, from the late nineteenth century on, to act as stretcher bearers. Instruments during the 18th century included fifes, drums, the oboe ( hautbois ), French horn, clarinet and bassoon. Drummers summoned men from their farms and ranches to muster for duty. In

7752-420: The field. Competitive bands, however, many times opt for matching uniforms, especially pants and shoes (usually white or black) to hide the visual effect of members who are out of step as seen from a distance. Occasionally, a band forgoes traditional uniforms in favor of costumes that fit the theme of its field show. The costumes may or may not be uniform throughout the band. This kind of specialized uniform change

7854-470: The first civilian organization to form a dedicated marching band in 1965-66, and the Ministry of Education followed suit with a teachers' band made up of band instructors. Today the Ministry of Education is responsible for overall control over the school, college, university and polytechnic bands within Singapore, with two dedicated cadet bands. Some of Singapore's oldest high school marching bands are from

7956-418: The front and back, so if band members turn suddenly ( flank ), the audience sees a striking change of color. Band members at many Ivy League schools wear a jacket and tie while performing. The Southern Methodist University band wear a different combination of jackets, vests, ties, shirts, and pants for each half (changing before halftime) of each game and no clothing or uniform combinations are repeated during

8058-423: The ground and the knee should not come out much past the still-straight leg. Some bands mark time by bringing their feet up to their knee—known as high-mark time . Some bands practice marking time during concert arch with the toes coming off of the ground to give the marcher a greater sense of marching while standing still. The heel should hit the ground on the beat. Some bands forgo marking time and instead come to

8160-806: The local governments. The marching bands of the Russian Armed Forces are organized by the Military Band Service in the Ministry of Defence . Also known as Marshiruyushchiye orkestr (loosely translated to Марширующие оркестр, which means Marching Orchestra in Russian), notable Russian marching bands include the Band and Corps of Drums of the Moscow Military Music College , whose cadets are famous for setting

8262-683: The mandatory retirement age for Navy officers. During the war, Sousa led the Navy Band at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago, and he donated all of his naval salary except a token $ 1 per month to the Sailors' and Marines' Relief Fund. Sousa was discharged from active duty after the end of the war in November 1918 and returned to conducting his own band. In the early 1920s, Sousa was promoted to lieutenant commander in

8364-451: The marching season. The Alma College Kiltie Marching Band is famous for wearing kilts made of the official Alma College tartan . The components of a band uniform are numerous. Common design elements include hats (typically shakos , pith helmets , combination hats or other styles of helmets) with feather plumes, capes, gloves, rank cords, and other embellishments. The USC Spirit of Troy Marching Band and Troy University 's Sound of

8466-526: The music, but, as their name implies, scramble from design to design. Many bands have auxiliaries that add a visual component to the performance such as a color guard or even dance lines and majorettes . In the USA, these auxiliaries may even perform as independent groups (such as winter guard ). While military color guards were typically male, band color guards tend to be primarily female, though for both, mixed groups are becoming more common. A marching band

8568-402: The music. Many auxiliary groups change the outfits they use from season to season based on the needs of the band, although some that do also have a "base" uniform for occasions such as parades or other ceremonies. Bands may compete on criteria such as musicality, uniformity, visual impact, artistic interpretation, and the difficulty of the music and drill. Competition exists at all levels but

8670-617: The national honorary band fraternity. In 1932, he was initiated as an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia , a national fraternity for men in music, by the fraternity's Alpha Xi chapter at the University of Illinois . The World War II Liberty ship SS  John Philip Sousa was named in Sousa's honor. The Marine Band possesses the ship's bell, using it in performances of the "Liberty Bell March". In 1952, 20th Century Fox honored Sousa in their Technicolor feature film Stars and Stripes Forever with Clifton Webb portraying him. It

8772-635: The oldest (the University of Notre Dame Band of the Fighting Irish ) first performing at an American football game in 1887. After World War I , the presence and quality of marching bands in the American public school system expanded as military veterans with service band experience began to accept music teaching positions within schools with developments such as Precision Drill , a disciplined geometric march, based in part on military-style drill. Today, marching band competitions remain popular in

8874-542: The pace for the annual Victory Day Parades on Red Square . These types of bands only came into existence after 1991 when the Soviet Union ceased to exist. During the Soviet era, civilian like marching bands were extremely rare, with one of the only non-military bands having been employed in the late 1930s and early 1940s during National Sports Day parades in the capital of Moscow . Other Russian marching bands include

8976-552: The recipients of the Sudler Shield: The Sudler Scroll recognizes and honors those community bands that have demonstrated particularly high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years, and which have played a significant and leading role in the cultural and musical environment in their respective communities. Those community concert bands which have won the award include: The Sudler International Composition Competition

9078-400: The steps of the move out loud to keep the entire band together. Typically, most moves consist of any number of steps that are a multiples of two or four, due to most marching band music being in even numbered time signatures . Even-numbered time signatures aid in staying in step because they assign odd-numbered counts to the left foot, and even-numbered counts to the right foot. If a band member

9180-412: The toe but preserving the angle of the foot. To perform a pivot, the marcher pivots between directions over the ball of the foot on the last count instead of using a prep step. A back march may be used when the band wishes to move in the opposite direction from where it is projecting its sound. There are several ways to back march, one of which is to walk backward, putting each foot down and rolling from

9282-493: The toe to the heel (the exact reverse of the roll step). Another variation involves marching on the platforms of the feet, dragging the toe of the moving foot on the ground. Backward marching usually employs the same preference for leg straightness as forward marching (if the band marches with legs completely straight while marching forwards, they also do so while marching backward, to preserve uniformity of style). Using peripheral vision to align oneself to formations or field markings

9384-417: The trophy: The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence who have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to

9486-452: The waist, so that only the upper portion of the body faces in the direction of play. This is known as lateral marching , but is more commonly known as either shifting , traversing , or sliding . A lateral march is not a change in the direction of march, only in the direction the upper body faces. Percussion players, whose large drum harnesses often prevent them from twisting their torsos, and sometimes tuba and sousaphone players, instead uses

9588-523: Was a regular competitor representing the Navy in trapshooting competitions, particularly against the Army. Records indicate that Sousa registered more than 35,000 targets during his shooting career. "Let me say that just about the sweetest music to me is when I call, 'pull,' the old gun barks, and the referee in perfect key announces, 'dead'." In Sousa's 1902 novella The Fifth String , a virtuoso violinist makes

9690-539: Was also found to have perfect pitch . During this period, Sousa wrote his first composition, "An Album Leaf", but Esputa dismissed it as "bread and cheese", and the composition was subsequently lost. Sousa's father was a trombonist in the Marine Band, and he enlisted Sousa in the United States Marine Corps as an apprentice at age 13 to keep him from joining a circus band. That same year, Sousa began studying music under George Felix Benkert. Sousa

9792-405: Was awarded annually from 1982 to 2007 and biannually since then. Described by a Los Angeles Times reporter as "[t]he Heisman Trophy of the collegiate band world", the award does not represent the winner of any championship, but rather a band surrounded by great tradition that has become respected nationally. No school may be honored with the award twice. According to the official description of

9894-472: Was born in Washington, D.C. , the third of 10 children of João António de Sousa (John Anthony Sousa) (September 22, 1824 – April 27, 1892), who was born in Spain to Portuguese parents, and his wife Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (May 20, 1826 – August 25, 1908), who was German and from Bavaria . Sousa began his music education under the tuition of John Esputa Sr., who taught him solfeggio . However, this

9996-674: Was descended from Adam Bellis who served in the New Jersey troops during the American Revolutionary War . They had three children: John Jr. (April 1, 1881 – May 18, 1937), Jane Priscilla (August 7, 1882 – October 28, 1958), and Helen (January 21, 1887 – October 14, 1975). On July 15, 1881, the "March King" was initiated into Freemasonry by Hiram Lodge No. 10 (Now Hiram-Takoma Lodge No. 10) in Washington, D.C. , where Sousa remained an active member until his death in 1932. Among other Masonic honors, Sousa

10098-413: Was enlisted under a minority enlistment, meaning that he would not be discharged until his 21st birthday. In 1868, Sousa enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 13 as an apprentice musician (his rank listed as "boy"). Sousa completed his apprenticeship and left the Marine Corps 1875. He then began performing on the violin and joined a theatrical pit orchestra where he learned to conduct. Sousa returned to

10200-606: Was loosely based on Sousa's memoirs Marching Along . In 1987, an act of Congress named "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the national march of the United States. In 2012, a crater on the planet Mercury was named in Sousa's honor. He was posthumously enshrined in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1976. Sousa was a member of the Sons of the Revolution , Military Order of Foreign Wars , American Legion , Freemasons , and

10302-885: Was named the Honorary Band Leader of the Temple Band of Almas Shriners, the DC-based Chapter of Shriners International . A number of his compositions were for the organization, including the "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" March . In his later years, Sousa lived in Sands Point, New York . On March 6, 1932, he died of heart failure at age 77 in his room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania . Sousa had conducted

10404-404: Was short-lived due to the teacher's frequent bad temper. Sousa's real music education began in 1861 or 1862 as a pupil of John Esputa Jr., the son of his previous teacher under whom Sousa studied violin, piano, flute, several brass instruments, and singing. Esputa shared his father's bad temper, and the relationship between teacher and pupil was often strained, but Sousa progressed very rapidly and

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