In all types of music, I try to get ensembles to interpret crescendo as “start softer.” In many editions this occurs in measure 5. Interpret the ImpracticalĮven the better editions include impractical things such as a crescendo from fortissimo.
Fix this issue here because it will recur throughout the march. Frequently, they will play the notes the correct length but will omit the silence, thereby compressing the rhythm. Ensuring that they are putting space between the notes will help. You’ve got to fix that by using some of the techniques mentioned in my SBO article (link appeared earlier), to work on their internal metronome. The beat must be absolutely solid and most ensembles will rush the quarter notes in Measure 3. Marches of this era were really conceived as dance tunes and having the students think of them that way instead of marches can help. I will not mention things included in the Brion/Schissel edition performance notes which are a must. There are a number of other arrangements/editions, but I have found all of them have some flaws compared to the recommended editions.īelow are several areas that frequently need work in order to get a great performance. If you are performing the easier versions, I highly recommend buying the score (only $7) to the Brion/Schissel arrangement because the voluminous performance notes are fantastic. The very best one of all is at the Medium level, edited by Brion/Schissel. At the Medium Easy level, James Curnow’s is very good. Choose a Good ArrangementĪfter doing this little bit of homework, make sure that your students have a good arrangement. Then, read my short article on SBO Magazine titled Teaching the Great American March. While the entire video is fantastic, Loras gets into The Stars and Stripes Forever at about 1:04:40. If you’d like to gain greater insight into proper performance of Sousa’s marches, I highly recommend watching Secrets to Successful Sousa. While I would like to claim incredible insight into the march, there is no better expert than Loras Schissel, senior musicologist at the Library of Congress. Congress designated it as the National March of the United States.Īs we approach Veterans Day 2019, I thought it would be a good time to focus on proper performance of this great march. Composed on Christmas Day, 1896 by John Philip Sousa, The Stars and Stripes Forever quickly became one of the most famous marches both in the United States and abroad.
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