"
The Washington Post" is a patriotic
march composed by
John Philip Sousa in
1889. Since then, it has remained as one of his most popular marches throughout the
United States and many countries abroad.
In 1889 owners of the Washington Post newspaper requested the then-current leader of the Marine Band to compose a march for the newspaper's essay contest awards ceremony. Sousa obliged, and it was first performed on June 15, 1889 at the ceremony, and was an instant hit. It led to a British journalist dubbing him "The March King." Sousa is honored in the Washington Post building for his contribution to the newspaper and his country. In 1893, this march was recorded on North American Phonograph Company cylinder _613 by Foh's 23rd Regiment Band of New York. This acoustical recording, unlike many others, has audible, clear, well recorded drums. [1]
This recognizable march is written in standard form IAABBCCDCDC. Written in 6/8 meter, it is suited as an accompaniment to the two-step, a new dance introduced in its time.
The first strain of the march (above) is famous and familiar to many. The march is played in a stately march tempo (110-120 beats/m; rarely over).
