Composer

John Philip Sousa

1854–1932

881 works in the index

Born: 1854
Died: 1932
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Citizenship / historical state: United States
Period (estimated from birth year): Romantic

Biography

Sousa wrote 136 marches and effectively defined what a concert band is. Everything he wrote is out of copyright in the United States, which is why the catalogue is thick with free editions.

The Stars and Stripes Forever, The Washington Post and Semper Fidelis are the ones everyone plays. Band sets are published complete with parts; individual instrument parts and piano reductions are separate purchases, and buying a "score" when you needed a full set of parts is the standard error here.

Modern editions sell on the editing rather than the music: the original parts have inconsistencies and errors that a century of performance has corrected, and a good recent edition incorporates them. For a school band, a graded simplified arrangement is usually the right choice over the original, which is harder than its familiarity suggests.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Trumpet, Piano, Orchestra, Trombone, Flute
Genres represented: Classical, American, Pop, Jazz, Country
Works with composition dates: 31 of 881

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 2 of 19

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
Work	Year composed	Catalogue / opus	Key in title	Listed instruments	Genre	Editions
To Arms	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	5
Forward	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	5
Right Front into Line	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	5
On Left into Line	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	5
The Stars & Stripes Forever	—	—	—	Flute, Trombone, Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone	Classical	10
Bill Bailey	—	—	—	Trumpet	—	4
When The Saints Go Marching In	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Accordion	Classical	4
We Wish You a Merry Christmas	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Accordion	Classical	4
Merry Mandarin	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
The Rifle Regiment Performed by John Philip Sousa	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
New Mexico March: E	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine: 2nd B	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine: 3rd B	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
George Washington Bicentennial March: E	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
Riders for the Flag: E	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
Sabre and Spurs (March of the American Cavalry): 2nd Percussion	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
The Beau Ideal March	1893IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	5
The Charlatan	1898IMSLP	—	—	—	Classical	3
The High School Cadets	1890IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Flute, Orchestra, Trombone, Tenor Saxophone	Classical	9
Yankee Doodle	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
High School Cadets, The	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
March Past Of The National Fencibles, The	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	4
FAtigue	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
Re-call	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
To The Color	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
Guide Left	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
Left Front into Line	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
Deploy	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	4
Military March	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	3
Rakoczy March	—	—	—	Trumpet	Classical	3
Thunderer March - Score	—	—	—	—	Classical	2
Selections from "Bride Elect" - Trumpet 2 in Bb	—	—	—	—	Classical	2
Sabre and Spurs - Score and Parts	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Cheese Roll Call	—	—	—	Piano, Vocal	Classical	2
Riders for the Flag - Score and Parts	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
The Picadore March	—	—	—	—	Classical	1
New Mexico March: B	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
George Washington Bicentennial March: WP B	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Riders for the Flag: B	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Riders for the Flag: 2nd Percussion	—	—	—	—	Classical	2
Sabre and Spurs (March of the American Cavalry): E	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Imperial Edward	1902IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	4
March Past of the National Fencibles	1888IMSLP	—	—	Piano, Orchestra	Classical	2
Picador March	1889IMSLP	—	—	—	Classical	2
Gladiator March	—	—	—	—	Classical	2
March Of The Picadore	—	—	—	—	Classical	2
Bride - Elect, The	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3
Invincible Eagle, The	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	3

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. The biography above is our own. Authority record: VIAF 197714. Portrait: Elmer Chickering, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.