The High School Cadets - Edison Military Band (1907)
Edison Military Band plays "High School Cadets" on Edison Gold Moulded Record 9489
1907
March written by John Philip Sousa.
During much of his adult life, John Philip Sousa was among the most important figures in American music. He led an incredibly popular band that inspired young people throughout America to take up musical instruments.
At the turn of the twentieth century, he may have been the world's most famous living composer. As the creator of 136 marches, many of them memorable, he earned the nickname "The March King." Some of his non-march compositions enjoyed success, including songs and operettas. Among the latter, El Capitan (1896) was especially popular.
He was the author of a novel, The Fifth String (Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1902), and an autobiography, Marching Along (Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1928).
He was born on November 6, 1854, in Washington, DC, to Antonio and Elizabeth Sousa. His mother lived long enough to see her son achieve great fame, dring in her Washington, DC, home on August 23, 1908. He played violin in a number of orchestras prior to assuming, at age 26, the post of U. S. Marine Band director in 1880, a position he held until 1892.
The first recordings associated with Sousa were made by the U. S. Marine Band in 1890. It was not the full band since recording technology at the time could accommodate little more than a dozen players. It recorded at least 229 titles for Columbia by the summer of 1892.
The conductor left the band on August 1, 1892. He had started forming his own band, which by July had been engaged for the October dedication of Chicago's Columbian Exposition. Patrick Gilmore died on September 24, which created a rare opportunity to hire great musicians. This death also left a void that Sousa could fill. Gilmore's Band had been the nation's most popular band. Another important bandleader, Carlo Alberto Cappa, died in early 1893. Sousa was clearly the most important figure in the band world.
The new band was at first called Sousa's New Marine Band but this name was short-lived due to objections by the U. S. Marine Band. It was renamed Sousa's Grand Concert Band. Records identify the ensemble simply as Sousa's Band.
Sousa recruited more than a dozen musicians, including Herbert L. Clarke, from Gilmore's Band after the bandmaster's death. This was bold. D. W. Reeves, the new leader of Gilmore's Band, denounced the New Marine Band in the Musical Courier of March 15, 1893. Such publicity did not hurt Sousa, who had secured important engagements immediately.
It is understandable if Sousa in the 1890s viewed records with such contempt that he declined to conduct during sessions. Recording and playback technologies were decidedly crude throughout that decade.
1907
March written by John Philip Sousa.
During much of his adult life, John Philip Sousa was among the most important figures in American music. He led an incredibly popular band that inspired young people throughout America to take up musical instruments.
At the turn of the twentieth century, he may have been the world's most famous living composer. As the creator of 136 marches, many of them memorable, he earned the nickname "The March King." Some of his non-march compositions enjoyed success, including songs and operettas. Among the latter, El Capitan (1896) was especially popular.
He was the author of a novel, The Fifth String (Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1902), and an autobiography, Marching Along (Hale, Cushman & Flint, 1928).
He was born on November 6, 1854, in Washington, DC, to Antonio and Elizabeth Sousa. His mother lived long enough to see her son achieve great fame, dring in her Washington, DC, home on August 23, 1908. He played violin in a number of orchestras prior to assuming, at age 26, the post of U. S. Marine Band director in 1880, a position he held until 1892.
The first recordings associated with Sousa were made by the U. S. Marine Band in 1890. It was not the full band since recording technology at the time could accommodate little more than a dozen players. It recorded at least 229 titles for Columbia by the summer of 1892.
The conductor left the band on August 1, 1892. He had started forming his own band, which by July had been engaged for the October dedication of Chicago's Columbian Exposition. Patrick Gilmore died on September 24, which created a rare opportunity to hire great musicians. This death also left a void that Sousa could fill. Gilmore's Band had been the nation's most popular band. Another important bandleader, Carlo Alberto Cappa, died in early 1893. Sousa was clearly the most important figure in the band world.
The new band was at first called Sousa's New Marine Band but this name was short-lived due to objections by the U. S. Marine Band. It was renamed Sousa's Grand Concert Band. Records identify the ensemble simply as Sousa's Band.
Sousa recruited more than a dozen musicians, including Herbert L. Clarke, from Gilmore's Band after the bandmaster's death. This was bold. D. W. Reeves, the new leader of Gilmore's Band, denounced the New Marine Band in the Musical Courier of March 15, 1893. Such publicity did not hurt Sousa, who had secured important engagements immediately.
It is understandable if Sousa in the 1890s viewed records with such contempt that he declined to conduct during sessions. Recording and playback technologies were decidedly crude throughout that decade.