Sousa at the White House in the movie "Stars And Stripes Forever"

Sousa at the White House. This is a bit fanciful story of Sousa's first White House appearance with the Marine Band. In the movie it is July 12th 1889 and the President is Benjamin Harrison.

The marches played in this clip are Hail To The Chief and Semper Fidelis

Sousa’s first White House appearance with the Marine Band was at the New Year’s reception of 1881. The order of the guess entry was ambassadors, cabinet, supreme court, officers of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, bureau chiefs of departments, followed by the general public. Customarily the band had played music which Sousa described as “too robust for the limits of the White House.” So he had the band music much subdued, especially during the entry of the first guests. As they came in greater numbers, the band played the light Opera excerpts, and for the latter guests, music of very lively character such as marches and polkas. Afterwards he was told by President Hayes’ secretary that the president was less fatigue than by previous receptions and had met many more people.

Видео Sousa at the White House in the movie "Stars And Stripes Forever" канала Taps Bugler