Description:

Sousa John



John Philip Sousa ALS Declaring "Invincible Eagle" March a Hit!

 

1p ALS inscribed overall and 2x signed by composer John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), the first time as "John Philip Sousa" at bottom right, and the second time as "J.P.S." near lower left. Written in Willow Grove, a northern suburb of Philadelphia, on June 7, 1901. On cream laid paper with "Willow Grove Park / Superintendent's Office, Willow Grove, Montgomery Co., PA." letterhead. Expected wear including light paper folds and wrinkles, else near fine. 5.625" x 8.625". Comes with a photocopy of a signed Certificate of Authenticity provided by Nate D. Sanders Auctions (Los Angeles, California.)

 

John Philip Sousa penned this letter to Blanche Duffield, a soprano affiliated with the Sousa Band. Sousa wrote the letter in a very unique way, in two columns read right to left. This was perhaps to accommodate other contents formerly in the letter and now missing.

 

In part:

 

"Yours of congratulation on the success of 'the Invincible Eagle' received the March has made an unmistakable (?) hit and bids fair to be one of the most popular of my pieces…"

 

Sousa composed "The Invincible Eagle" en route from New York City to Buffalo, New York, where he was traveling to attend the Pan-American Exposition. "The Invisible Eagle" debuted at the Exposition (convened May-November 1901) to great acclaim.

 

Blanche Duffield, the very recipient of our letter, witnessed the creation of the march. Duffield was in the same train car as Sousa when the band leader was struck with inspiration. Duffield recalled:

 

"Suddenly and without previous warning Mr. Sousa began to describe circles in the air with a pencil, jerking back and forth in his seat meanwhile. Gradually the circumference of his pencil’s arcs diminished and Mr. Sousa drew a notebook from his pocket, still humming to himself. Notebook and pencil met. Breves and semi-breves appeared on the page’s virgin surface. Quarter notes and sixteenth notes followed in orderly array. Meanwhile Mr. Sousa furrowed his brow and from his pursed lips came a stirring air—rather a martial blare, as if hidden trombones, tubas, and saxophones were striving to gain utterance. Now Mr. Sousa’s pencil traveled faster and faster, and page after page of the notebook were turned back, each filled with martial bars...Mr. Sousa’s famous march, 'The Invincible Eagle,' took form." [Reproduced from Paul E. Bierley, The Works of John Philip Sousa (Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1984), p. 43.]

 

John Philip Sousa, the “American March King”, was an accomplished musician, composer, and conductor. Trained in voice, violin, piano, flute, and cornet among other instruments, Sousa had perfect pitch. He also contributed to the design of the Sousaphone, a brass tuba-like instrument. Of the 136 marches that Sousa composed, “Semper Fidelis” (1888) and “Stars and Stripes Forever” (1896) are the most famous. Though Sousa was sure that "The Invincible Eagle" would eclipse these, it did not! The Sousa Band, led by its eponymous conductor, performed over 15,500 concerts worldwide between 1892-1931.

 

Blanche Duffield later became an established Broadway stage actress. She performed in musical comedies and operettas like The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, and the Pirates of Penzance.

 

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