On December 24, 1910, the Sousa Band embarked on a world tour. Although not the first group to travel around the world, the publicity generated was immense (although the financial rewards were only modest). Sousa’s reputation, marches and recordings preceded him; he and the band were welcomed as conquering heroes at every port.

Sousa was in poor health at the beginning of the tour, having contracted malaria during hunting trip in the fall of 1910. After spending two weeks in the hospital, he met the band in mid-tour in Montreal and finished a series of “farewell” concerts before sailing from New York on December 24.

Soloists for the tour were Virginia Root (soprano), Nicoline Zederer (violin), Herbert L. Clarke (cornet), John J. Perfetto (euphonium), Ralph Corey (trombone), Paul J. Senno (piccolo), Joseph Norrito (clarinet) and Joseph Marthage (harp).

Here is a summary of their itinerary (for a complete list of tour stops, consult Paul Bierley’s The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa):

  • Jan 9-Mar 3 1911: England, Ireland
  • Mar 24-Apr 21: South Africa
  • May 12-Aug 23: Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand
  • Sep 10-Oct 15: Hawaii, Western Canada & U.S.
  • Oct 23-Dec 1: Midwestern U.S. (TX, OK, KS, MO, NE, IA, WI, MN, MI, IL, OH)
  • Dec 4-Dec 10: NY