JOHN PHILIP SOUSA

by Ann M. Lingg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1954

The latest addition to this Holt series takes a well-known figure for an extensive and intensive life study of March King by the author of Mephisto Waltz a biography of Liszt, also for the series (1951, p. 489). Opening dramatically with the victory parade in Washington just after the Civil War as Philip thrilled to it at the age of 11, the story continues in full bodied narrative style. There is material on his father's Portuguese- Spanish background to preface the picture of the Sousa's family life and that of its headstrong young central character. As Philip grows, there are the spats as well as the accomplishments with his music teachers, the evidence of an early brilliance, the various trials at publishing his works and organizing music for plays and operettas before his appointment as leader of the Marine Band in 1880. With success, Sousa often felt hampered and a failure as a composer, but like his marches, he went on to become revered and famous before old age. A mature book- with comments on a musically young America- this should interest older readers too.

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Musical Biography Series- Holt

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1954

Categories: NONFICTION