Peter H. Johnson, Jr., 32°
1524 Smith Drive, Holbrook, Arizona 86025-1951

In composing "Stars and Stripes Forever," Ill. Bro. Sousa, 33°, gave
his beloved country an immortal Christmas present.

Ill. John Philip Sousa, 33°, Hall of Honor portrait

Christmas Day 1896 found Ill. John Philip Sousa, 33°, the "March King," in a forgotten hotel suite somewhere in New York City. He and Mrs. Sousa had just returned from Europe two days earlier aboard the White Star liner Teutonic. The voyage had been tense and nerve racking. Only weeks earlier, the Sousas had been enjoying a much-needed vacation in Naples, Italy, when a cable confirmed that Sousa's band manager, David Blakely, had dropped dead in his office. Sousa's civilian band was still in its formative years, and now the very future of the organization was in question. Plans were already underway for a cross-country tour of the United States. Many decisions would have to be made upon arrival in New York.

The recent voyage remained fresh in Sousa's mind. He rehashed the details over and over in his mind's eye. He recalled pacing the decks of the Teutonic. He remembered feelings of apprehension giving way to thoughts of happier times when he had served as Conductor of the "President's Own," the U.S. Marine Corps Band, in the nation's capital. He vividly imagined the red, white, and blue of the American flag flying proudly over the grounds of the White House.

Meanwhile, a mental band began playing the most distinct melody to accompany this imaginary tableau.

The martial strains of the "brain band" continued to repeat the same clear themes without ceasing. The music seemed to be coming from some ethereal source, perhaps from God himself. Sitting in his hotel suite, Ill. Bro. Sousa penciled in the condensed score of what would become the most cherished piece of our nation's patriotic music. Not one note he had heard in his mind while aboard ship was modified or deleted. He hurriedly scribbled the title "The Star and Stripes Forever," carelessly omitting the final "s" in "Stars." At once, he felt as if some heavy burden had been lifted from his soul. Little did he know that he was giving his beloved country a Christmas present that would become immortal. With a quick stroke, Sousa initialed the lower right-hand corner of the manuscript "JPS Xmas '96."

Sousa later revealed that the final third of the march was a lesson in American geography. The "Hurrah! For the Flag of the Free" melody represented the North. The dancing piccolo obbligato represented the South. The heroic trombone countermelody represented the West. All three tunes played together in the final statement presented a tuneful conception of America as a unified post-Civil War nation.

The fully orchestrated march finally premiered on May 14, 1897, when it was performed by Sousa and his Band at a Philadelphia concert. The Public Ledger commented on Sousa's latest march with unusual hyperbole: "It is stirring enough to rouse the American Eagle from its crag, and set him to shriek exultantly while he hurls his arrows at the aurora borealis." Although well received, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" did not truly catch hold of the American public until Sousa used it as the finale of his pageant, "Trooping the Colors," during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

From then on, the march was demanded and expected at every Sousa concert. Veteran Sousa musicians later recalled, to a man, that it was always an inspiring experience to play "The Stars and Stripes" despite hundreds of repetitions. The tearful and heartfelt patriotic fervor communicated by the audiences to the musicians never failed. An entire unwritten protocol for the performance of the march also developed and is still followed to this day. Sousa was a master in the use of unexpected bass drum and cymbal accents and never failed to add them at appropriate moments. The first statement of the second strain was often played softly without the cornets for contrast. The famous trio section was first played quietly and smoothly to be interrupted by the storm of the interlude. The second repetition of the trio featured standing piccolos playing their technical counterpoint over the rest of the band. The final interlude or "dogfight" allowed ample time for the brass to march to their posts in front of the band, bells pointed high for a "full throttle" finale. At this point, a large American flag was frequently unfurled behind the band. At night an illuminated flag of colored incandescent lights was similarly utilized with great effect.

In his later years, Sousa was interviewed by Etude music magazine and asked the hypothetical question about what musical composition he would want to hear if he were assured by his physician that he had left only 24 hours of life. Without hesitation he responded, "'The Stars and Stripes Forever.' I would meet my maker face to face with the inspiration that grows out of its melodies and the patriotism that gives it meaning."

Sousa's thoughts were prophetic. On March 5, 1932, the "March King" was in Reading, Pennsylvania, to rehearse the Ringgold Band in preparation for a gala concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the band. Sousa appeared frail and seemed to be getting over a cold. He rehearsed his portion of the concert with little comment. The last selection he rehearsed was "The Stars and Stripes Forever." After a short speech at the banquet, the gracious Sousa autographed menus and returned to his hotel to rest for the forthcoming concert. Sadly, the concert was not to be; "the grand old man of music" received his final call during the wee hours of March 6. Instead of a gala concert, the grief-stricken Ringgold Band played a dirge in the rain as Sousa's remains were loaded on a train for military and Masonic services in Washington, D.C.

For many years "The Stars and Stripes Forever" remained an unofficial anthem of America. This changed in 1987 when Congress passed legislation making the melody the official march of the United States of America (U.S. Code Title 36, Chapter 10). This legislation was the result of a grassroots movement spearheaded by former Tulsa music storeowner, Jimmy Saied. His efforts led to petitions with 250,000 signatures in support of the "The Stars and Stripes" legislation.

It is nearly forgotten that the musical Sousa was also a man of letters and the author of several books. Sousa wrote patriotic words to "The Stars and Stripes Forever." The vocal version was a favorite selection of singing societies in years past. Like his music, Sousa's words, spanning all the main themes of the march, are energetic and inspiring. The frequently neglected text of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is here reprinted in its entirety.

Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand.
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is Freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Historical notes: Details about on Sousa and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was based on information in Sousa's autobiography, Marching Along, and Paul Bierley's The Works of John Philip Sousa. Other information was found in a 1987 clipping from the Arizona Republic.

The above article is reprinted from Knight Templar (December 2002).

Peter H. Johnson, Jr., is a Past Grand Commander of the Knights Templar Arizona (2000-2001). He served as W.M. of Chalcedony Lodge No. 6, Holbrook, Ariz. (1990-96), and is a member of the York Rite Bodies in Winslow, Ariz., and the Scottish Rite Bodies of Tucson. Employed as a public school music teacher for 33 years, he is a former Fine Arts Coordinator of the Holbrook Public Schools in Holbrook, Arizona, and has composed several marches for band. He enjoys researching Masonic musicians and playing the saxophone with the Northland Pioneer College Symphonic Band and the Windjammers Unlimited Circus Concert Band.