An iconic march makes its Frederick debut

A popular song for bands to play nowadays is “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” the national march of the United States.

John Philip Sousa wrote the iconic march on Christmas Day, 1896. He was on board an ocean liner heading back to the United States after a European vacation with his wife, Jane. He had just learned of the death of David Blakely, the manager of Sousa’s band, which was simply named the Sousa Band. He heard the march in his head and pondered the melody and lyrics during the final days of the voyage. Then when he reached home, he wrote it down.