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The Stars and Stripes Forever
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Portrait of John Philip Sousa wearing a military-style uniform with medals and a cap bearing the United States eagle emblem.
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John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa American composer and bandmaster John Philip Sousa.

The Stars and Stripes Forever

march by Sousa
Written by
Betsy Schwarm
Betsy Schwarm is a music historian based in Colorado. She serves on the music faculty of Metropolitan State University of Denver and gives pre-performance talks for Opera Colorado and the Colorado Symphony...
Betsy Schwarm
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History
John Philip Sousa: “The Stars and Stripes Forever”“The Stars and Stripes Forever,” a march composed by John Philip Sousa, performed by Sousa's band in a 1909 recording.

The Stars and Stripes Forever, march by American composer John Philip Sousa that premiered in 1897. The piece stands as the quintessential example of the composer’s music.

(Discover more patriotic tunes in Britannica’s List of Songs About America.)

Sousa composed well over 100 marches, and the best known of all those is the patriotic “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” The piece was an immediate success, and, from the time of its publication until his death 35 years later, Sousa and his band performed it at most of their concerts. As with most Sousa marches, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” begins with a short, rousing introduction, followed by three contrasting melodies of varied moods. The boldest of those melodies is restated grandly along with a formidable piccolo solo in the finale. Although Sousa had set his own poetry to the music, the piece is more often heard in its instrumental form. In 1987 “The Stars and Stripes Forever” was designated as the official march of the United States.

Betsy Schwarm