Patriotic Songs: Stars and Stripes Forever

“The Stars and Stripes Forever” is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa.  Sousa is considered America’s “March King”. “In his autobiography, Marching Along, Sousa wrote that he composed the march on [Christmas Day], 1896. He was on an ocean liner on his way home from Read More

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

George Gershwin’s biggest hit almost didn’t happen.  Imagine if the work that established Gershwin as a serious composer never happened. In 1924, George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist, with compositions spanning both the classical and popular sectors.  Together with his brother, Ira, he composed for the Broadway stage.  He penned his first hit, Read More