Band Talk April 2009 April 14 2009, 4 Comments

Band Talk

This month, instead of an interview, we present this wonderful painting created by American illustrator Paul Stahr (1883-1953). This painting depicts John Philip Sousa marching through the streets of the city with the US Navy band that he trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station outside Chicago during World War I.* The painting can be found hanging in the library of Congress in Washington, D.C. *Thank you, John Johnson and Jack Kopstein, for submitting this information!*

Comments

Jack Kopstein on April 09 2014 at 10:34AM

Hi John
You are absolutely correct that it is not the SOUSA band but his US Navy band that he trained at the GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION outside CHICAGO in World War I. He was commissioned by the US navy to train musicians. He resumed his work with the Sousa band after the war.
The painting is a classic however bcause it shows Sousa on parade. something his band never did. Much of the foregoing is described in the book" The Incredible band of John Philip Sousa" by Sousa biographer Paul Bierley which is available from ALTISSIMO.
Thank you again for your attention to detail and for your interest in military music.
jack

admin on April 09 2014 at 10:34AM

John, you may be right about what band is behind him. Thank you for the information!

Anne Gatehouse on April 09 2014 at 10:34AM

Can you please advertise my collection of Military Band Archive which covers bands from all over the world
We have infomation on many of the USA and Canadian Bands and lots of information on Sousa
If anyone is coming over to Uk they are welcome to visit and see the collection and do any research here in Newport South Wales.
Regards Anne

John A. Johnson on April 09 2014 at 10:34AM

I may be splitting hairs but your description of that painting implies that he is at the head of the Sousa Band. Not so. During World War One he served as a naval enlistee at the Great Lakes Training Station with the Rank of Lt. Commander with a salary of one dollar a year. He did this in order to train musicians for the navy. That is the band he is leading in the painting. The Sousa Band was not a marching band although I think that it did march once.