JOHN P. SOUSA DEAD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 1

JOHN P. SOUSA DEAD.

Passing of Famous American Bandmaster. VISITED CHRISTCHURCH ONCE. Unlte-S Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, NEW YORK, March 6. John Philip Sousa, the famous American bandmaster, died from heart failure on Saturday’ night. He was seventy-eight y'ears of age. John Philip Sousa, the American bandmaster, known as the “March King." was born at Washington, D.C., i.; 1854. His father was Portuguese and his mother a Bavarian. At the age of eleven he appeared in public as a solo violinist. A

pupil of Esputa and Benkert, he studied the violin and band instruments. From 1872 he was a violinist in theatres at. Washington and Philadelphia, playing at Ford’s Opera House and leading the orchestra at the Theatre Comique. In 1876-7 he was under Offenbach at Philadel-

phia. writing for him the “ International Congress ’’ fantasia, and it was no doubt his association with this composer that led him to begin writing comic operas in 1879. It was for the Church Choir Co. which he conducted that his first opera, “ The Smugglers,’’ was composed, and as musical director of Mackey’s Comedy Co. he wrote “ Our Flirtations.”

As early- as 1867 he had played in the Marine Band at Washington and from 1880 to 1892 he was its leader. He then formed his own band, which gave its first concert at Plainfield, N.J., in September, 1892. With this he made annual tours through the United States and Canada, besides five tours in Europe and one in 1910-11 round the world, visiting among other countries South Africa. Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. In Christchurch he play’ed in the King Edward Barracks, which were packed for each concert. The band played at almost all the great exhibitions. Sousa first made his name at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 and extended his reputation to Europe by his appearance at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. He received many ciders and decorations. In 1917 he became a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve.

As a bandmaster he fascinated his audiences by his spectacular style of conducting and by the catchy tunes of his 100 marches, which included the “ Washington Post,” “ Liberty Bell.” “ Stars and Stripes,” “ Imperial Edward." “ Manhattan Beach," “ Semper Fidelis,” “ Hands Across the Sea ” and “ Federal ” for Australia. Among his light operas are “El Capitan,” “ Desiree,” “ The American Maid,” “ Queen of Hearts,” “ Bride-Elect," “ Free Lance,” “Chris and His Wonderful Lamp,” “ The Glass-Blowers ” and “ The Charlatan,” given in London as “ The Mystical Miss." In addition to eight band suites, “ Sheridan’s Ride,"

“ The Chariot Race " and many dances and songs he wrote novels, verse and magazine articles.