OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1932, Page 6

OBITUARY

DEATH OF J. P. SOUSA. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, March 7. The death occurred on Saturday night, ait Beading, Pennsylvania, of Mr 'John Philip 'Sousa, 'the famous American bandmaster, ait the age,of 78 years. The cause of death was heart failure. John Philip Sousa, known as the “March King,” was born at Washington, (D. 0., in, 1851. His father was Portuguese and his mother a Bavarian. Alt the age of 11 he appeared in public as a solo violinist. A pupil of Esputa and Benkert, he .studied the violin and band instruments. From 1872 he was a violinist in 'theatres at Washington and Philadelphia. In 1876-77 he was under Offenbach at Philadelphia, writing for him the “International Congress” fantasia, and it was no doubt his association with this composer that led him to begin writing comic operas in 1879.

As early as 1867 he had played in the Marine Band at Washington, and from 1880 to 1892 he was its leader. He then formed his own band, which gave its first concert at Plainfield, New Jersey, in September, 1892. With this he made annual tours through the United States and Canada, besides five tours m Europe and one in 1910-11 round the world, visiting among other countries South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The band , played at almost all the great exhibitions. Sousa first made his name at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, and extended his reputation to Europe by his appearance at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. He received many Orders and decorations. In 1917 he bacanve a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve. As a bandmaster he fascinated his audiences by hi s spectacular style ol conducting, and by the catchy tunes of his hundred marches, which included the “Washington Post,” “Liberty Bell, ‘•Stars and Stripes,” “Imperial Edward,” “Manhattan Beach,” "Semper Fictelis,” “Hands Ucross the Sea,” and “Federal” for Australia. Among his light operas are “El Capstan, “Desiree,” “The American Maul," ‘•'Queen »f Hearts,” “Br.de-Emct, ’ "Free Lance,” “Chris and IDs Wonderful Lamp,” “The Glass-Blowers,” nnd “The Chanlatan,” given in London as “The Mystical Miss.” In addition to 'eight band .suites, “Sheridan’s Ride,’ "The Chariot Race,” and many dances and songs, he wrote novels, verse, and magazine articles.