Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 10 (1927-07)

426 The Phonograph Monthly Review Sousa. L ieutenant commander john PHILIP SOUSA deserves a place in the “Patriotic Number” of the Phonograph Monthly Review for many reasons. To begin with, he was born in Washington, D. C., not far from the Nation’s Capitol and very near the Marine Barracks and Navy Yard. For twelve years (1880-1892) he conducted the U. S. Marine Band known as “The President’s Own” and brought it to the highest state of perfection. The death of Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, con- ductor of the famous Gilmore Band, gave Sousa the opportunity of embarking on a career at the head of his own Concert Band. His individual style of conducting and pro- gram-making combined with the inimitable pres- entation of his own Marches brought him the in- stantaneous success which he enjoys to this day. He soon became known throughout the world as “The March King.” When the Washington Post (6/8 March) first appeared it was played exten- sively for the dance popular at that time, the Two- Step. In Germany the March met with such success that the dance itself became known as “The Washington Post.” During the Spanish American War he served in the Sixth Army Corps of the U. S. Army. At the beginning of the World War a corres- pondent in Europe wrote to the London Times , “Oh, for a Sousa to stir up the sluggish blood of our recruits! Someone to write military music to enthuse and awaken a thousand willing hearts who need the fire and enthusiasm of martial music to inspire! What could not Sousa do un- der such circumstances? The 'March King’ would be a God-send!” Although “The Stars and Stripes Forever” when played by Sousa and his band never fails to thrill an audience, music critics differ when asked to select the finest of Sousa’s many marches. Upon the entrance of the United States in the World War, Mr. Sousa offered his services to the Navy and was placed in charge of over a thous- and young men in the Bands of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois, During the War he composed “The Naval Re- serve,” “Solid Men to the Front,” “The Chantey- man,” “Anchor and Star,” “Liberty Soon,” “Field Artillery,” “The Volunteers,” “Saber and Spurs,” “We Are Coming,” “Blue Ridge” and other marches. On his many tours to the principal cities he was a very large factor in securing sub- scriptions for the different Liberty Loans. Lieu- tenant-Commander Sousa is the only man to receive a commission serving in the musical branch of the Navy. He has served in the three main branches of the military service, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. A distinction to which few men can lay claim. The Sousa Band is composed almost entirely of young Americans, there being but three men of foreign birth in the Band during the last tour. On the annual tours with the Band Mr. Sousa is feted in almost every city by the different pa- triotic, civic and fraternal organizations in a manner befitting his position as one of America’s foremost citizens. T HE subject of sound boxes is one of the greatest interest and significance to all phonograph owners for it is obvious that the reproducer is the very soul of any instrument. It will be remembered that long since we an- nounced the receipt of various boxes for test at the Studio and currently reported the arrival of new ones and the progress of our experiments. It has been necessary to postpone several times our article on these boxes and even now we must give due warning of the fact that this little article is by no means conclusive; it is merely the first of a series of several articles which are being planned to cover the extensive and bewildering field of instruments and their accessories. Anyone who has ever experimented with dif- ferent boxes and instruments will understand the various problems that confront us. Sound boxes have as individual personalities and qualities as human beings and when one gets through trying several different makes on several different in- struments with a variety of different records, he is very apt to know considerably less than he did in the beginning! In addition to these difficulties is the fact that we have not heard all the boxes on the American market today, and also that several new models or improved models have been an- nounced for early issue, in fact, are sent in to us constantly. So instead of attempting to make any formal report on our findings, we shall merely sketch, in non-technical style a little of our experiences with various types of boxes and give an idea of the opinions we have of them. What changes may be made by the new repro- ducer that may be in our mail tomorrow will have to be noted later. We recommend most earnestly that every phonograph enthusiast before choosing