Only a very few video clips exist of John Philip Sousa.
In this 1929 Fox Movietone News clip, Sousa conducts one of his marches for President Herbert Hoover on the White House lawn.
At the beginning we see the title slide, reading, “PRESIDENT HEARS SOUSA’S LATEST – Famous March King leads U.S. Marine Band in his newest composition on the White House lawn”. It is accompanied by a short excerpt from The Black Horse Troop (1924). Then we see Sousa and Hoover exchanging words in front of the band:
Sousa: “Mr. President, I wish to present to you a copy of the George Washington Bicentennial march.”
Hoover: “Actually, I’m most delighted that you composed the march, because it’ll be much used in the next two weeks. Thank you.”
Sousa: “Band attention!”
The band then begins a vigorous rendition of George Washington Bicentennial (1930), dominated by the trombones in the front row.
The second clip was filmed on May 12, 1930, again at the White House conducting the U.S. Marine Band. Sousa conducts the public premiere of The Royal Welch Fusiliers (1930), which was first performed on April 26 at the annual dinner of the Gridiron Club of Washington. The White House performance shown here was held to allow newsreel cameras and photographers to record the event. President Hoover, British ambassador Sir Ronald Lindsay and other dignitaries can be seen on the steps.
Unfortunately this newsreel clip has no audio.
Recent Comments