Alas, it is the Sousa march - the bane of French Horn players everywhere. The reason for this is that in just about every march written, horn players have exactly the same part: they are the "pah" of the perpetual "om-pah."Sousa actually began his career playing violin and eventually was enlisted in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice in 1868. After departing the band in 1875, he eventually learned to conduct and compose. From 1880 until his death in 1932, Sousa wrote marches, earning him the nickname "The March King."
He also developed the sousaphone - making the modern marching band possible, much to the delight of those tuba players who switch to this much lighter instrument for the fall marching season.
Happy Listening!
John Philip Sousa – Washington Post March
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