Jump to content

Hands Across the Sea (march): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Hands Across the Sea (1899), by John Philip Sousa.png|thumb|right|upright|"Hands Across the Sea" sheet music cover]]
{{listen
{{listen
|filename=Hands Across the Sea.ogg
|filename=Hands Across the Sea.ogg
|title=Hands Across the Sea
|title="Hands Across the Sea"
|description="Hands Across the Sea" being performed by the [[United States Navy Band]].
|description="Hands Across the Sea" being performed by the [[United States Navy Band]].
|filetype=[[Ogg]]
|filetype=[[Ogg]]
|filename2=Hands Across The Sea (USNA).ogg
|filename2="Hands Across The Sea" (1899), performed by the United States Naval Academy in 1977.oga
|title2=Hands Across the Sea
|title2="Hands Across the Sea"
|description2="Hands Across the Sea" being performed by a [[United States Naval Academy|U.S. Naval Academy]] band in 1977.
|description2="Hands Across the Sea" being performed by a [[United States Naval Academy|U.S. Naval Academy]] band in 1977.
|filetype2=[[Ogg]]
|filetype2=[[Ogg]]
}}
}}
"'''Hands Across the Sea'''" is a [[United States|American]] [[military]] [[March (music)|march]] [[Musical_composition#Composing_music|composed]] by [[John Philip Sousa]] in 1899.<ref name="dws">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dws.org/sousa/articles/works.htm|title=The Works of John Philip Sousa|accessdate=September 10, 2007|publisher=Dallas Wind Symphony|work=John Philip Sousa - American Conductor, Composer & Patriot |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070908174925/http://www.dws.org/sousa/articles/works.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = September 8, 2007}}</ref>
"'''Hands Across the Sea'''" is an American [[Martial music|military]] [[March (music)|march]] [[Musical composition#Composing music|composed]] by [[John Philip Sousa]] in 1899.<ref name="dws">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dws.org/sousa/articles/works.htm|title=The Works of John Philip Sousa|accessdate=September 10, 2007|publisher=Dallas Wind Symphony|work=John Philip Sousa - American Conductor, Composer & Patriot |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070908174925/http://www.dws.org/sousa/articles/works.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = September 8, 2007}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Sousa told interviewers that the following phrase inspired him to compose the march: "A sudden thought strikes me; let us swear eternal friendship". The phrase is inscribed onto the cover of the march's sheet music.


==History==
==History==
The march was written in 1899. When the march premiered the same year at the [[Academy of Music (Philadelphia)|Academy of Music]] in [[Philadelphia]], the audience insisted that it be [[Encore (concert)|repeated]] three times.<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=528JAQAAMAAJ Journal of Band Research]'', Vols. 38-39, p. 54.</ref> The march is "addressed to no particular nation, but to all of America's friends abroad."<ref name="Bierley">Paul E. Bierley, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=UjIf-tFx6ZcC The Works of John Philip Sousa]'' (1984), p. 60.</ref>
The march was dedicated to all of the countries abroad allied with the United States, and the [[Highty-Tighties]], the Regimental Band of the [[Virginia Tech]] [[Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets|Cadet Corps]]. It is written in cut time and follows the [[American march music#March music form|standard march form]] (IAABBCCDCDC). It begins in the key of F major and ends in B-flat major. The third (C) section, or [[trio (music)|trio]], features a memorable and lyrical melody that is repeated and layered with a [[piccolo]] [[obbligato]] and finally a low [[Brass instrument|brass]] [[counter-melody]].

In 1901, John Philip Sousa heard the Virginia Tech Regimental Band (The [[Highty-Tighties]]) playing "The Thunderer" at the [[Pan-American Exposition]] in Buffalo, New York. Sousa was so impressed that he dedicated a performance of his latest march, "Hands Across the Sea", to the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greatamericanthings.net/music/music-john-philip-sousa/|title = Music: John Philip Sousa|date = 3 July 2010}}</ref>

Sousa prefaced the sheet music's score with a quotation from the English diplomat [[John Hookham Frere]]: "A sudden thought strikes me; let us swear eternal friendship."<ref name="Guide">''[https://books.google.com/books?id=nlDOICBmhbkC&pg=PA1295 All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music]'' (Blackbeat, 2005: eds. Chris Woodstra, Gerald Brennan & Allen Schrott), p. 1,295.</ref><ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Dto9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA231 Music: A Monthly Magazine],'' Vol. 16.</ref> The march was composed in the wake of the Spanish–American War and is idealistic, in addition to patriotic, in nature.<ref name="Guide"/>

⚫
"Hands Across the Sea" remains one of Sousa's more popular marches and is still performed widely by bands.<ref name="Bierley"/>

==Composition==
One reviewer describes the march this way: "Hands Across the Sea opens with a jaunty, carefree theme, the [[Wind instrument|wind]] [[sonorities]] light and generally in their middle and upper ranges. An equally attractive march appears midway through, its manner initially mellow and nonchalant. It gradually turns more animated and colorful, the [[piccolo]] dancing merrily above suave wind sonorities. The work closes with this spirited theme playing proudly, the [[Brass instrument|brass]] flamboyant, the [[cymbal]]s crashing, and the whole brimming with festivity and vivid color. For band music enthusiasts and Sousa mavens, this three-minute gem will have great appeal."<ref name="Guide"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of marches by John Philip Sousa]]


⚫
"Hands Across the Sea" remains as one of Sousa's more popular marches, and is still performed widely by bands.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.dws.org/sousa/mid/hand-sea.mid Hands Across The Sea (audio file)] &ndash; In [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]] format; from the [http://www.dws.org/sousa John Philip Sousa website] maintained by David Lovrien, hosted by the [[Dallas Wind Symphony]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221044/http://www.dws.org/sousa/mid/hand-sea.mid Hands Across The Sea (audio file)] &ndash; In [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]] format; from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20141205182038/http://www.dws.org/sousa/ John Philip Sousa website] maintained by David Lovrien, hosted by the [[Dallas Wind Symphony]]
{{John Philip Sousa}}
{{John Philip Sousa}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:American military marches]]
[[Category:American military marches]]
[[Category:Sousa marches]]
[[Category:Sousa marches]]
[[Category:1899 compositions]]
[[Category:1899 compositions]]
[[Category:Concert band pieces]]
[[Category:Navy music]]

Latest revision as of 18:31, 31 October 2023

"Hands Across the Sea" sheet music cover
"Hands Across the Sea"
"Hands Across the Sea" being performed by the United States Navy Band.
"Hands Across the Sea"
"Hands Across the Sea" being performed by a U.S. Naval Academy band in 1977.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

"Hands Across the Sea" is an American military march composed by John Philip Sousa in 1899.[1]

History

[edit]

The march was written in 1899. When the march premiered the same year at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the audience insisted that it be repeated three times.[2] The march is "addressed to no particular nation, but to all of America's friends abroad."[3]

In 1901, John Philip Sousa heard the Virginia Tech Regimental Band (The Highty-Tighties) playing "The Thunderer" at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Sousa was so impressed that he dedicated a performance of his latest march, "Hands Across the Sea", to the band.[4]

Sousa prefaced the sheet music's score with a quotation from the English diplomat John Hookham Frere: "A sudden thought strikes me; let us swear eternal friendship."[5][6] The march was composed in the wake of the Spanish–American War and is idealistic, in addition to patriotic, in nature.[5]

"Hands Across the Sea" remains one of Sousa's more popular marches and is still performed widely by bands.[3]

Composition

[edit]

One reviewer describes the march this way: "Hands Across the Sea opens with a jaunty, carefree theme, the wind sonorities light and generally in their middle and upper ranges. An equally attractive march appears midway through, its manner initially mellow and nonchalant. It gradually turns more animated and colorful, the piccolo dancing merrily above suave wind sonorities. The work closes with this spirited theme playing proudly, the brass flamboyant, the cymbals crashing, and the whole brimming with festivity and vivid color. For band music enthusiasts and Sousa mavens, this three-minute gem will have great appeal."[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Works of John Philip Sousa". John Philip Sousa - American Conductor, Composer & Patriot. Dallas Wind Symphony. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  2. ^ Journal of Band Research, Vols. 38-39, p. 54.
  3. ^ a b Paul E. Bierley, The Works of John Philip Sousa (1984), p. 60.
  4. ^ "Music: John Philip Sousa". 3 July 2010.
  5. ^ a b c All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music (Blackbeat, 2005: eds. Chris Woodstra, Gerald Brennan & Allen Schrott), p. 1,295.
  6. ^ Music: A Monthly Magazine, Vol. 16.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hands_Across_the_Sea_(march)&oldid=1182844657"