Sousa, JP :: Liberty Bell

Musicians Publications presents John Phillip Sousa's 'The Liberty Bell arranged for flexible woodwind trio by Bill Holcombe. This arrangement includes a plethora of woodwind parts that are interchangeable depending on the instrumentation available. The score is divided into 3 voices, with the lowest voice in both bass and treble clef. Voice 1 parts include flute, oboe, and clarinet; upper voice 2 parts include flute, oboe, and B-flat clarinet; and voice 3 parts include clarinet, bass clarinet, or bassoon. The many different options in performance make this the perfect medley for a gigging group! This arrangement is intermediate in difficulty.

Washington, D.C. native and legendary bandmaster John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) wrote a dozen operettas, six full-length operas, and over 100 marches, earning the title 'March King . He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at an early age and went on to become the conductor of the President s Own Marine Band at age 26. In 1892 he formed Sousa and his Band , which toured the United States and the world under his directorship for the next forty years to great acclaim. Not only was Sousa s band hugely popular, but it also exposed audiences all over the world to the latest, cutting-edge music, bringing excerpts of Wagner s Parsifal to New York a decade before the Metropolitan Opera staged it, and introducing ragtime to Europe, helping to spark many a composer s interest in American music.

Sousa originally wrote Liberty Bell in 1893. It features the chimes, perhaps in homage to the famous American landmark after which it is named. The march is now most famous for its use as the theme song to Monty Python s Flying Circus .

- Andy Pease